Production of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) by pathway engineering: identification of a PUFA elongase component from Caenorhabditis elegans

Biochem Soc Trans. 2000 Dec;28(6):661-3.

Abstract

Using a combination of database-mining and functional characterization, we have identified a component of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) elongase. Co-expression of this elongating activity with fatty acid desaturases has allowed us to heterologously reconstitute the PUFA biosynthetic pathway. Both these enzymes (desaturases and elongase components) have undergone gene-duplication events which provide a paradigm for the diverged nature of PUFA biosynthetic activities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetyltransferases / chemistry
  • Acetyltransferases / genetics
  • Acetyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / enzymology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Fatty Acid Desaturases / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acid Elongases
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / biosynthesis*
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Genome
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Substrate Specificity
  • gamma-Linolenic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • gamma-Linolenic Acid
  • Fatty Acid Desaturases
  • Acetyltransferases
  • Fatty Acid Elongases