Forward genetics in <i>C. elegans</i> reveals genetic adaptations to polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency.

ABSTRACT: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for mammalian health and function as membrane fluidizers and precursors for signaling lipids, though the primary essential function of PUFAs within organisms has not been established. Unlike mammals who cannot endogenously synthesize PUFAs, C. elegans can de novo synthesize PUFAs starting with the Δ12 desaturase FAT-2, which introduces a second double bond to monounsaturated fatty acids to generate the PUFA linoleic acid. FAT-2 desaturation is essential for C. elegans survival since fat-2 null mutants are non-viable; the near-null fat-2(wa17) allele synthesizes only small amounts of PUFAs and produces extremely sick worms. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we found that the fat-2(wa17

SUBMITTER: Kaper D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12237404 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature