Fig. 2.

Structures of 1-alkyl-2,3-diacylglycerol (ADG) and fatty acids in the golden hamster Harderian gland.

A, R₁- is an alkyl residue; R₂CO- and R₃CO- are acyl residues. B, Fatty acids form ester linkages at the number 2 and 3 positions of glycerol, to make up the acyl portion of ADG. Fatty alcohols, formed from the corresponding fatty acid, form ether linkages at the number 1 position of glycerol, to make up the alkyl portion of ADG. Methyl branching residues at the (n-1) position in iso-branched chain fatty acids and the (n-2) position in anteiso-branched chain fatty acids.