title: The generation of transgenic mice with fat1 and fad2 genes that have their own polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthetic pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microorganisms and higher plants possess their own omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) biosynthetic pathways. The n-6 fatty acid desaturase gene fad-2 codes for the n-6 desaturase enzyme that coverts oleic acid (OA 18:1 n-9) into linoleic acid (LA 18:2 n-6). The n-3 fatty acid desaturase gene fat-1 codes for the n-3 desaturase enzyme that converts n-6 PUFAs into n-3 PUFAs. Mammals lack n-3 and n-6 desaturase enzymes; therefore, they must obtain their omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids by consuming plants or seafood. The beneficial effects of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs on human development and cardiovascular health have been well documented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we generated fat-1 and fad-2 transgenic mice by introducing mammal expression vectors containing the fat-1 and fad-2 genes via microinjection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven transgenic mice were obtained that expressed functional n-3 and n-6 desaturase enzymes. Analysis of the fatty acid contents of transgenic mouse livers revealed that n-6 and n-3 PUFA levels were greatly increased in the transgenic mice compared to wild-type mice. The use ratios of n-9 PUFAs (18:1 n-9) and n-6 PUFAs were both greater in the transgenic mice than in the wild-type controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These transgenic mice were capable of producing their own omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They have the same fatty acid metabolic pathways as higher plants and microbes.
authors.affiliation: Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, the Center for Animal Embryo Engineering of Jilin Province, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kuiying
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Guangqi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Tianchuang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hongsheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Guangpeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ziyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D015053:Zygote
chemical_list: D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; C040448:delta-12 fatty acid desaturase