Functional characterization of a delta 6-desaturase gene from the black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli)

Biotechnol Lett. 2011 Jun;33(6):1185-93. doi: 10.1007/s10529-011-0555-2. Epub 2011 Feb 12.

Abstract

Delta 6-fatty acid desaturase (D6DES) is used in the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from microorganisms to higher animals, including arachidonic acid (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). A 1,338 bp full-length cDNA encoding D6DES was cloned from Acanthopagrus schlegeli (AsD6DES) through degenerate- and RACE-PCR methods. A recombinant vector expressing AsD6DES (pYES-AsD6DES) was subsequently constructed and transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisiae to test the enzymatic activity of AsD6DES towards the production of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. The exogenously expressed AsD6DES produced γ-linolenic acid (18:3 n-6) and stearidonic acid (18:4n-3) at 26 and 36% from exogenous linoleic acid (18:2n-6) and α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3), respectively, indicating that it is essentially a delta 6-fatty acid desaturase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Biotechnology
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / biosynthesis*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / chemistry
  • Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase / genetics*
  • Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Perciformes / genetics*
  • Perciformes / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase