Expression of masu salmon delta5-desaturase-like gene elevated EPA and DHA biosynthesis in zebrafish.
Farmed fish could substitute for marine capture fish as a source of fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) beneficial for human health; however, they require these compounds in their diets. In the present study on a model fish species, we modified the EPA/DHA biosynthesis pathway by overexpression of masu salmon Delta5-desaturase-like gene in zebrafish to increase its ability to synthesize EPA and DHA. Expression of this gene in transgenic fish fed a commercial diet and Artemia helped to improve their EPA content by 1.21-fold and DHA by 1.24-fold. In similar fish that were fed only Artemia the increments were 1.14-fold for EPA and 1.13-fold for DHA, compared with nontransgenic fish. In contrast, eicosatetraenoic acid content decreased, as it is a substrate of Delta5-desaturase, while the total lipid remained constant. The results demonstrated that masu salmon Delta5-desaturase is functional in zebrafish and can modify its fatty acid metabolic pathway. The technique could be applied to farmed fish to generate a nutritionally richer product for human consumption.
Alimuddin
Department of Marine Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Minato, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
Yoshizaki
Goro
G
Kiron
Viswanath
V
Satoh
Shuichi
S
Takeuchi
Toshio
T
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified / Q000502:physiology*; D001156:Artemia / Q000737:chemistry; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005524:Food Technology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D017683:Oncorhynchus / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000502:physiology*
D000199:Actins; D017931:DNA Primers; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008055:Lipids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases