Identification and characterization of a novel enzyme related to the synthesis of PUFAs derived from Thraustochytrium aureum ATCC 34304

초록

Thraustochytrids are the one of the important group involved in the synthesis of large amounts of several polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Thraustochytrium aureum ATCC 34304 was able to produce high levels of several PUFAs. In the present study, a novel gene was cloned from T. aureum ATCC 34304 and the functional analysis was demonstrated by its heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris. The full length of the 1374 bp gene contained 458 amino acids that showed very limited homology with desaturases and elongases from various organisms. However, according to the experimental results, this novel enzyme was involved in the elongation and desaturation reactions to synthesize C20 and C22 PUFAs, as well as to mediate different elongation (Δ9, Δ6, Δ5) and one Δ5 desaturation activities.