title: Identification and characterization of an animal delta(12) fatty acid desaturase gene by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: We have cloned a Caenorhabditis elegans cDNA encoding a Delta12 fatty acid desaturase and demonstrated its activity by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The predicted protein is highly homologous both to the cloned plant genes with similar function and to the published sequence of the C. elegans omega-3 fatty acid desaturase. In addition, it conforms to the structural constraints expected of a membrane-bound fatty acid desaturase including the canonical histidine-rich regions. This is the first report of a cloned animal Delta(12) desaturase gene. Expression of this cDNA in yeast resulted in the accumulation of 16:2 and 18:2 (linoleic) acids. The increase of membrane fluidity brought about by this change in unsaturation was measured. The production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in yeast cells and the concomitant increase in membrane fluidity was correlated with a modest increase in growth rate at low temperature and with increased resistance to ethanol and oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6340, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Peyou-Ndi
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Browse
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*; D006639:Histidine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020161:Physical Chromosome Mapping; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D000431:Ethanol; D006639:Histidine; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; C040448:delta-12 fatty acid desaturase