title: Novel elongase of Pythium sp. with high specificity on Δ(6)-18C desaturated fatty acids.
abstract: We identified a novel elongase gene from a selected strain of the Oomycete, Pythium sp. BCC53698. Using a PCR approach, the cloned gene (PyElo) possessed an open reading frame (ORF) of 834 bp encoding 277 amino acid residues. A similarity search showed that it had homology with the PUFA elongases of several organisms. In addition, the signature characteristics, including four conserved motifs, a histidine-rich catalytic motif and membrane-associated feature were present in the Pythium gene. Heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that it was specific for fatty acid substrates, having a double bond at Δ(6)-position, which included γ-linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (STA), and preferentially elongated the n3-18C PUFA. This is an elongase in Oomycete fungi, which displays very high specificity on Δ(6)-18C desaturated fatty acids. This will be a powerful tool to engineer PUFA biosynthesis in organisms of interest through the n-6 series pathway for producing value-added fatty acids.
authors.affiliation: Fermentation Technology and Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Bioresources Technology Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sukanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeennor
authors.affiliation: Fermentation Technology and Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Bioresources Technology Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pattsarun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheawchanlertfa
authors.affiliation: Fermentation Technology and Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Bioresources Technology Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sarinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suttiwattanakul
authors.affiliation: Bioassay Laboratory, Bioresources Technology Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sarocha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panchanawaporn
authors.affiliation: Bioassay Laboratory, Bioresources Technology Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chanikul
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chutrakul
authors.affiliation: Fermentation Technology and Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Bioresources Technology Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand. Electronic address: kobkul@biotec.or.th.
authors.forename: Kobkul
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laoteng
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011775:Pythium / Q000201:enzymology*; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases
keywords: Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Pythium sp.; Substrate specificity and preference; Δ(6)-Fatty acid elongase