title: Production of polyunsaturated fatty acids by polyketide synthases in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential membrane components in higher eukaryotes and are the precursors of many lipid-derived signaling molecules. Here, pathways for PUFA synthesis are described that do not require desaturation and elongation of saturated fatty acids. These pathways are catalyzed by polyketide synthases (PKSs) that are distinct from previously recognized PKSs in both structure and mechanism. Generation of cis double bonds probably involves position-specific isomerases; such enzymes might be useful in the production of new families of antibiotics. It is likely that PUFA synthesis in cold marine ecosystems is accomplished in part by these PKS enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Omega Tech, 4909 Nautilus Court North, Boulder, CO 80301-3242, USA. jmetz@omegadha.com
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roessler
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Facciotti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levering
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dittrich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lassner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lardizabal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Domergue
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yazawa
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knauf
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Browse
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D020592:Shewanella / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases