title: Polyunsaturated fatty acids: biotechnology.
abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acids like EPA and DHA have attracted a great attention due to their beneficial effects on human health. At present, fish oil is the major source of EPA and DHA. Various alternative sources are being explored to get these essential fatty acids. Genes encoding enzymes involved in the biosyntheses of PUFAs have been identified, cloned and gene prospecting becomes a novel method for enhanced PUFA production. Desaturase and elongase genes have important biotechnological appeal from genetic engineering point of view. This review highlights the research and results on such enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Pune, Pune 411007, India.
authors.forename: Dnyaneshwar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Warude
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Abhay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harsulkar
mesh_terms: D015099:3-Oxoacyl-(Acyl-Carrier-Protein) Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001709:Biotechnology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D015099:3-Oxoacyl-(Acyl-Carrier-Protein) Synthase; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase