title: The surprising diversity of Delta6-desaturase substrates.
abstract: A single gene encoding a Delta6-desaturase (FADS2) has been isolated and characterized in mammalian species. This Delta6-desaturase plays a major role in the biosynthesis of PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids). It catalyses the rate-limiting desaturation of linoleic acid (C(18:2) n-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (C(18:3) n-3) required for the biosynthesis of long-chain PUFAs. Moreover, recent studies have provided strong evidence that this Delta6-desaturase also acts on 24-carbon PUFAs of both the n-6 and n-3 series. Another substrate of this Delta6-desaturase has been identified through complementary works from different investigators. This Delta6-desaturase acts on a saturated fatty acid, palmitic acid (C(16:0)), leading to the newly characterized biosynthesis of hexadecenoic acid (C(16:1) n-10) or sapienate.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie, INRA-ENSA, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, CS84215, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guillou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'andrea
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rioux
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Legrand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases