Biosynthesis of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Marine Gammarids: Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterisation of Three Fatty Acyl Elongases.

ABSTRACT: Long-chain (C_20-24) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are essential nutrients that are mostly produced in marine ecosystems. Previous studies suggested that gammarids have some capacity to endogenously produce LC-PUFAs. This study aimed to investigate the repertoire and functions of elongation of very long-chain fatty acid (Elovl) proteins in gammarids. Our results show that gammarids have, at least, three distinct elovl genes with putative roles in LC-PUFA biosynthesis. Phylogenetics allowed us to classify two elongases as Elovl4 and Elovl6, as they were bona fide orthologues of vertebrate Elovl4 and Elovl6. Moreover, a third elongase was named as "Elovl1/7-like" since it grouped closely to the Elovl1 and Elovl7 found in vertebrates. Molecular analysis of the deduce

SUBMITTER: Ribes-Navarro A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8073319 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature