Functional identification of a fatty acid Δ5 desaturase gene from Caenorhabditis elegans

FEBS Letters

Lewis, Mervyn²  Michaelson, Louise V.¹  Napier, Johnathan A.²  Stobart, A.Keith¹  Griffiths, Gareth³  Lazarus, Colin M.¹ 

[1] School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK;IACR-Long Ashton Research Station, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, Long Ashton, Bristol BS41 9AF, UK;Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF, UK

关键词: Fatty acid desaturase;    Delta five;    Caenorhabditis elegans;    PCR;    polymerase chain reaction;    GC;    gas chromatography;    GCMS;    gas chromatography mass spectroscopy;    FAMe;    fatty acid methyl ester;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0014-5793(98)01385-4

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

We have identified a cDNA from the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans that encodes a fatty acid Δ⁵ desaturase. Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing the full-length cDNA was able to convert di-homo-γ-linolenic acid to arachidonic acid, thus confirming Δ⁵ desaturation. The 1341 bp Δ⁵ desaturase sequence contained an N-terminal cytochrome b ₅ domain and was located within a kilobase of the C. elegans Δ⁶ desaturase on chromosome IV. With an amino acid identity of 45% it is possible that one of these genes arose from the other by gene duplication. This is the first example of a Δ⁵ desaturase gene isolated from an animal.

【 授权许可】

Unknown