Abstract
Pavlova lutheri, a marine microalga, is rich in the very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFAs) eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) acids. Using an expressed sequence tag approach, we isolated a cDNA designated Pldes1, and encoding an amino acid sequence showing high similarity with polyunsaturated fatty acid front-end desaturases. Heterologous expression in yeast demonstrated that PlDES1 desaturated 22:5n-3 and 22:4n-6 into 22:6n-3 and 22:5n-6 respectively, and was equally active on both substrates. Thus, PlDES1 is a novel VLCPUFA Delta4-desaturase. Pldes1 expression is four-fold higher during the mid-exponential phase of growth compared to late exponential and stationary phases.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Chromatography, Gas
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DNA, Complementary / genetics
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DNA, Complementary / isolation & purification
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Docosahexaenoic Acids / metabolism
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Eicosapentaenoic Acid / analogs & derivatives
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Eicosapentaenoic Acid / metabolism
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Eukaryota / chemistry
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Eukaryota / enzymology*
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Eukaryota / genetics
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Eukaryota / growth & development
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Fatty Acid Desaturases / chemistry*
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Fatty Acid Desaturases / genetics
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Fatty Acid Desaturases / metabolism*
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Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / analysis
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Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / chemistry*
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Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / metabolism*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / physiology
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
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Recombinant Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Yeasts / genetics
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Yeasts / metabolism
Substances
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DNA, Complementary
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Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
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Recombinant Proteins
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Docosahexaenoic Acids
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Eicosapentaenoic Acid
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Fatty Acid Desaturases
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delta-4 fatty acid desaturase