We identified a cDNA expressed sequence tag from an animal (the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans) that showed weak similarity to a higher-plant microsomal Δ6-desaturase. A full-length cDNA clone was isolated and expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This demonstrated that the protein encoded by the C. elegans cDNA was that of a fatty acid Δ6-desaturase, as determined by the accumulation of γ-linolenic acid. The C. elegans Δ6-desaturase contained an N-terminalcytochrome b5 domain, indicating that it had a similar structure to that of the higher-plant Δ6-desaturase. The C. elegans Δ6-desaturase mapped to cosmid W08D2, a region of chromosome III. This is the first example of a Δ6-desaturase isolated from an animal and also the first example of an animal desaturase containing a cytochrome b5 domain.
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March 1998
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Research Article|
March 01 1998
Identification of a Caenorhabditis elegans Δ6-fatty-acid-desaturase by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Available to Purchase
A. Johnathan NAPIER;
A. Johnathan NAPIER
1
1IACR-Long Ashton Research Station, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, Long Ashton, Bristol BS18 9AF, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be sent.
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J. Sandra HEY;
J. Sandra HEY
1IACR-Long Ashton Research Station, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, Long Ashton, Bristol BS18 9AF, U.K.
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J. Dominic LACEY;
J. Dominic LACEY
1IACR-Long Ashton Research Station, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, Long Ashton, Bristol BS18 9AF, U.K.
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R. Peter SHEWRY
R. Peter SHEWRY
1IACR-Long Ashton Research Station, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, Long Ashton, Bristol BS18 9AF, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
December 05 1997
Revision Received:
January 13 1998
Accepted:
January 13 1998
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
The Biochemical Society, London © 1998
1998
Biochem J (1998) 330 (2): 611–614.
Article history
Received:
December 05 1997
Revision Received:
January 13 1998
Accepted:
January 13 1998
Citation
A. Johnathan NAPIER, J. Sandra HEY, J. Dominic LACEY, R. Peter SHEWRY; Identification of a Caenorhabditis elegans Δ6-fatty-acid-desaturase by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochem J 1 March 1998; 330 (2): 611–614. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj3300611
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