Isolation and functional characterization of fatty acid delta5-elongase gene from the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L

FEBS Lett. 2006 Jan 9;580(1):149-54. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.11.065. Epub 2005 Dec 6.

Abstract

Bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha L. produces C22 very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (VLCPUFA). Thus far, no enzyme that mediates elongation of C20 VLCPUFAs has been identified in land plants. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of the gene MpELO2, which encodes an ELO-like fatty acid elongase in M. polymorpha. Heterologous expression in yeast demonstrated that MpELO2 encodes delta5-elongase, which mediates elongation of arachidonic (20:4) and eicosapentaenoic acids (20:5). Phylogenetic and gene structural analysis indicated that the MpELO2 gene is closely related to bryophyte Delta6-elongase genes for C18 fatty acid elongation and diverged from them by local gene duplication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetyltransferases / genetics*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arachidonic Acid / biosynthesis
  • Arachidonic Acid / genetics
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / biosynthesis
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / genetics
  • Fatty Acid Elongases
  • Gene Duplication*
  • Gene Expression
  • Marchantia / enzymology
  • Marchantia / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny*
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid
  • Acetyltransferases
  • Fatty Acid Elongases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB238912
  • GENBANK/AB238913
  • GENBANK/AB238914