title: Activity of human Delta5 and Delta6 desaturases on multiple n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
abstract: Yeast co-expressing human elongase and desaturase genes were used to investigate whether the same desaturase gene encodes an enzyme able to desaturate n-3 and n-6 fatty acids with the same or different carbon chain length. The results clearly demonstrated that a single human Delta5 desaturase is active on 20:3n-6 and 20:4n-3. Endogenous Delta6 desaturase substrates were generated by providing to the yeast radiolabelled 20:4n-6 or 20:5n-3 which, through two sequential elongations, produced 24:4n-6 and 24:5n-3, respectively. Overall, our data suggest that a single human Delta6 desaturase is active on 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, 24:4n-6 and 24:5n-3.
authors.affiliation: QuantaNova Canada Ltd., P.O. Box 818, Kentville, NS, B4N 4H8, Canada. r.deantueno@mailexcite.com
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Antueno
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Knickle
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nwaka
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Winther
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase