The surprising diversity of Delta6-desaturase substrates.
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.
Guillou
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Laboratoire de Biochimie, INRA-ENSA, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, CS84215, 35042 Rennes cedex, France.
D'andrea
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Rioux
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Jan
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Legrand
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D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases