ω3 fatty acid desaturases from microorganisms: structure, function, evolution, and biotechnological use.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs) biosynthesis involves sequential desaturation and elongation steps.
• Omega-3 desaturase (ω3 desaturase) is a critical enzyme converting omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids.
• ω3 desaturase genes are found across diverse microorganisms like cyanobacteria, yeasts, molds, and microalgae.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the structure, function, and evolutionary aspects of ω3 desaturases.
• To investigate the substrate specificities of ω3 desaturases in VLC-PUFA biosynthesis.
• To establish a foundation for producing various ω3 fatty acids in transgenic microorganisms.

Main Methods:

• Identification and characterization of ω3 desaturase genes in various microbial species.
• Structural analysis of ω3 desaturase, noting conserved histidine-rich motifs and the absence of a cytochrome b5-like domain.
• Functional studies focusing on substrate specificity in fatty acid modification pathways.

Main Results:

• ω3 desaturase possesses conserved structural features, including three histidine-rich motifs.
• Unlike some other desaturases, ω3 desaturase lacks a cytochrome b5-like domain.
• Characterization provides insights into its role in the ω3 fatty acid production pathway.

Conclusions:

• Understanding ω3 desaturase's molecular mechanisms is crucial for manipulating fatty acid biosynthesis.
• The structural and functional data support the potential for engineering microorganisms to produce specific ω3 fatty acids.
• This research paves the way for biotechnological applications in ω3 fatty acid production.