Isolation and characterization of a Delta5-desaturase from Oblongichytrium sp

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008 Aug;72(8):2224-7. doi: 10.1271/bbb.80235. Epub 2008 Aug 7.

Abstract

We isolated a cDNA clone with homology to known desaturase genes from Oblongichytrium sp., recently classified as a new genus of thraustochytrids (Labyrinthulomycetes), and found that it encoded Delta5-desaturase by its heterologous expression in yeast. The enzyme had higher activity toward 20:4n-3 than 20:3n-6, indicating that this Delta5-desaturase can be used in the production of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in transgenic organisms.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Esterification
  • Fatty Acids / chemistry
  • Marine Biology
  • Methylation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / chemistry
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / isolation & purification*
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors