Fatty acid composition of lipid classes in two mussel populations (Anodonta piscinalis and Corbicula fluminalis) living in Tigris River

Purpose: The aim of this work was to investigate quantitative and qualitative fatty acid composition of phospholipid, monoacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, triacylglycerol and total body lipid of two adult freshwater mussels, Anodonta piscinalis (Nilsson, 1822) and Corbicula fluminalis (Muller, 1774). Methods: Mussels’ body lipids were fractionated by thin layer chromatography. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry instruments were used to detect the fatty acids. Results: C16:0, C18:0, C16:1ω7, C18:1ω9, C18:2ω6 and C20:4ω6 were the dominant fatty acids. Their total percentages are between 70.37% and 82.11% in A. piscinalis and between 66.70% and 75.53% in C. fluminalis. As characteristic to freshwater mussels, Σω6 / Σω3 ratio was defined high in all lipid fractions. In both of the mussels, the maximum level of total polyunsaturated fatty acids was found in the phospholipids, and the maximum level of the total saturated fatty acids was found in the monoacylglycerol fractions. However, the level total monounsaturated fatty acids showed differentiations among fractions. In comparison to other fractions, the phospholipid contained high amount of C20:4ω6 and C20:5ω3, involved in eicosanoids formation. Conclusion: The study provided insight into the biochemistry and nutritional value of the widely distributed freshwater mussels from Tigris River.