title: Substrate specificity and preference of Delta6-desaturase of Mucor rouxii.
abstract: The Delta(6)-fatty acid desaturase is a key enzyme in the synthesis of an important fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid. We have characterized, by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, substrate specificity and preference of Delta(6)-desaturase of Mucor rouxii. Fatty acid supplementation was carried out based on the predicted enzyme topology, fatty acid phenotype and the corresponding metabolic pathway in M. rouxii. The enzyme has a broad substrate specificity as based on C15-C18. The result also supported classification of the M. rouxii Delta(6)-desaturase into a front-end desaturase. Interestingly, a relatively rare activity based on odd acyl chains and not described previously in other eukaryotic Delta(6)-desaturases was also observed.
authors.affiliation: School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkuntien, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sutthicha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Na-Ranong
authors.forename: Kobkul
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laoteng
authors.forename: Prasat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kittakoop
authors.forename: Morakot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tantichareon
authors.forename: Supapon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheevadhanarak
mesh_terms: D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009089:Mucor / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny; D010957:Plasmids; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005227:Fatty Acids; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases