Functional characterisation of two cytochrome b5-fusion desaturases from Anemone leveillei: the unexpected identification of a fatty acid Delta6-desaturase. 2003

Heather M Whitney, and Louise V Michaelson, and Olga Sayanova, and John A Pickett, and Johnathan A Napier
Long Ashton Research Station, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41 9AF, UK.

The Ranunculaceae are known to accumulate a wide range of unusual fatty acids in their seed lipids, and this variability has been advocated as a taxonomic marker. The Anemone species, Anemone leveillei L. and Anemone rivularis Buch.-Ham., have previously been reported to accumulate Delta5-desaturated fatty acids in their seed tissue [K. Aitzetmüller (1995) Plant Syst Evol 9:229-240]. Two cDNAs, AL1 and AL2, with similarity to plant cytochrome b5-fusion "front-end" desaturases were isolated from developing seeds of A. leveillei and their function identified by expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. AL2 was characterised as a sphingolipid long-chain-base Delta8-desaturase, while AL1 acted as a fatty acid desaturase. However, AL1 did not produce Delta5-desaturated fatty acids as expected; instead, when expressed in transgenic S. cerevisiae or Arabidopsis thaliana this enzyme was functionally characterised as a Delta6-desaturase. Northern analysis confirmed the expression of this gene in seed tissue and leaf tissue of A. leveillei, though Delta6-desaturated fatty acids were found to accumulate only in the leaf tissue. The unexpected characterisation of a Delta6-desaturase in A. leveillei has implications for the use of fatty acids in chemotaxonomic studies. This is also the first report of a higher-plant Delta6-desaturase from a family other than the Boraginaceae.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007700 Kinetics The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008969 Molecular Sequence Data Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories. Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D000595 Amino Acid Sequence The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION. Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D015786 Cytochromes b5 Cytochromes of the b group that are found bound to cytoplasmic side of ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. They serve as electron carrier proteins for a variety of membrane-bound OXYGENASES. They are reduced by the enzyme CYTOCHROME-B(5) REDUCTASE. Apocytochrome b5,Cytochrome b-5,Cytochrome b5,Ferricytochrome b5,Cytochrome b 5
D016415 Sequence Alignment The arrangement of two or more amino acid or base sequences from an organism or organisms in such a way as to align areas of the sequences sharing common properties. The degree of relatedness or homology between the sequences is predicted computationally or statistically based on weights assigned to the elements aligned between the sequences. This in turn can serve as a potential indicator of the genetic relatedness between the organisms. Sequence Homology Determination,Determination, Sequence Homology,Alignment, Sequence,Alignments, Sequence,Determinations, Sequence Homology,Sequence Alignments,Sequence Homology Determinations
D017360 Arabidopsis A plant genus of the family BRASSICACEAE that contains ARABIDOPSIS PROTEINS and MADS DOMAIN PROTEINS. The species A. thaliana is used for experiments in classical plant genetics as well as molecular genetic studies in plant physiology, biochemistry, and development. Arabidopsis thaliana,Cress, Mouse-ear,A. thaliana,A. thalianas,Arabidopses,Arabidopsis thalianas,Cress, Mouse ear,Cresses, Mouse-ear,Mouse-ear Cress,Mouse-ear Cresses,thaliana, A.,thaliana, Arabidopsis,thalianas, A.
D017386 Sequence Homology, Amino Acid The degree of similarity between sequences of amino acids. This information is useful for the analyzing genetic relatedness of proteins and species. Homologous Sequences, Amino Acid,Amino Acid Sequence Homology,Homologs, Amino Acid Sequence,Homologs, Protein Sequence,Homology, Protein Sequence,Protein Sequence Homologs,Protein Sequence Homology,Sequence Homology, Protein,Homolog, Protein Sequence,Homologies, Protein Sequence,Protein Sequence Homolog,Protein Sequence Homologies,Sequence Homolog, Protein,Sequence Homologies, Protein,Sequence Homologs, Protein
D044943 Fatty Acid Desaturases A family of enzymes that catalyze the stereoselective, regioselective, or chemoselective syn-dehydrogenation reactions. They function by a mechanism that is linked directly to reduction of molecular OXYGEN. Acyl CoA Desaturase,Enoyl CoA Reductase,Fatty Acid Desaturase,Fatty Acid Desaturating Enzymes,Acyl CoA Desaturases,Enoyl CoA Reductases,Acid Desaturase, Fatty,CoA Desaturase, Acyl,CoA Reductase, Enoyl,Desaturase, Acyl CoA,Desaturase, Fatty Acid,Desaturases, Fatty Acid,Reductase, Enoyl CoA,Reductases, Enoyl CoA
D050602 Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase An enzyme that catalyzes the syn-dehydrogenation of linoleol-CoA gamma-linolenoyl-CoA. It was formerly characterized as EC 1.14.99.25. Delta(6)-Desaturase,Delta-6 Fatty Acid Desaturase,Delta-6-Desaturase,Delta-6-FADTase,Fatty Acid Delta-6-Desaturase,Linoleic Acid Delta-6 Desaturase,Linoleoyl CoA Desaturase,Linoleoyl Coenzyme A Desaturase,Acid Delta-6-Desaturase, Fatty,CoA Desaturase, Linoleoyl,Delta 6 Desaturase,Delta 6 FADTase,Delta 6 Fatty Acid Desaturase,Delta-6-Desaturase, Fatty Acid,Desaturase, Linoleoyl CoA,Desaturase, Linoleoyl-CoA,Fatty Acid Delta 6 Desaturase,Linoleic Acid Delta 6 Desaturase
D031883 Anemone A plant genus of the family RANUNCULACEAE that contains triterpene saponins. The root of Anemone raddeana is the source of a Chinese folk medicine, zhu jie xian fu. The common name of liverwort is also used with other plants. This genus is unrelated to SEA ANEMONES. Anemone hepatica,Anemone raddeana,Anemone hepaticas,Anemone raddeanas,Anemones,hepaticas, Anemone,raddeana, Anemone

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