Identification of the substrate recognition region in the Δ6-fatty acid and Δ8-sphingolipid desaturase by fusion mutagenesis

Δ⁸-sphingolipid desaturase and Δ⁶-fatty acid desaturase share high protein sequence identity. Thus, it has been hypothesized that Δ⁶-fatty acid desaturase is derived from Δ⁸-sphingolipid desaturase; however, there is no direct proof. The substrate recognition regions of Δ⁶-fatty acid desaturase and Δ⁸-sphingolipid desaturase, which aid in understanding the evolution of these two enzymes, have not been reported. A blackcurrant Δ⁶-fatty acid desaturase and a Δ⁸-sphingolipid desaturase gene, RnD6C and RnD8A, respectively, share more than 80 % identity in their coding protein sequences. In this study, a set of fusion genes of RnD6C and RnD8A were constructed and expressed in yeast. The Δ⁶- and Δ⁸-desaturase activities of the fusion proteins were characterized. Our results indicated that (1) the exchange of the C-terminal 172 amino acid residues can lead to a significant decrease in both desaturase activities; (2) amino acid residues 114–174, 206–257, and 258–276 played important roles in Δ⁶-substrate recognition, and the last two regions were crucial for Δ⁸-substrate recognition; and (3) amino acid residues 114–276 of Δ⁶-fatty acid desaturase contained the substrate recognition site(s) responsible for discrimination between ceramide (a substrate of Δ⁸-sphingolipid desaturase) and acyl-PC (a substrate of Δ⁶-fatty acid desaturase). Substituting the amino acid residues 114-276 of RnD8A with those of RnD6C resulted in a gain of Δ⁶-desaturase activity in the fusion protein but a loss in Δ⁸-sphingolipid desaturase activity. In conclusion, several regions important for the substrate recognition of Δ8-sphingolipid desaturase and Δ⁶-fatty acid desaturase were identified, which provide clues in understanding the relationship between the structure and function in desaturases.     

Further characterization of Delta(8)-sphingolipid desaturases from higher plants

A previously cloned cDNA from Helianthus annuus codes for a fusion protein composed of an N-terminal cytochrome b(5) and a C-terminal desaturase domain. For a functional identification, this cDNA was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the structures of sphingolipid long-chain bases were analysed. The expression of this sunflower enzyme resulted in the formation of new Delta(8)-trans/cis-phytosphingenine from C(18)- and C(20)-phytosphinganine present in wild-type yeast cells. To elucidate the substrate specificity, the recently cloned Delta(8)-sphingolipid desaturases from Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus were expressed in the yeast mutant sur2Delta that lacked the sphinganine C(4)-hydroxylase and was thus unable to form phytosphinganine. Long-chain base analysis of the transformed mutant cells did not show any conversion of C(18)- or C(20)-sphinganine into Delta(8)-sphingenine, whereas exogenously added C(18)-phytosphinganine was desaturated to Delta(8)-trans/cis-phytosphingenine. Furthermore, GLC-MS analysis did not reveal the presence of any Delta(9)-regioisomers as reported before. These results show that the sunflower gene codes for a Delta(8)-sphingolipid desaturase which accepts C(18)- and C(20)-phytosphinganine. The absence of Delta(8)-sphingenine as desaturation product in the transformed mutant suggests that C(4)-hydroxylation of sphinganine precedes Delta(8)-desaturation. Therefore, in yeast, the substrate for the plant Delta(8)-sphingolipid desaturase seems to be the phytosphinganine residue.     

Histidine-41 of the Cytochrome b5 Domain of the Borage Δ6 Fatty Acid Desaturase Is Essential for Enzyme Activity

Unlike most other plant microsomal desaturases, the Delta6-fatty acid desaturase from borage (Borago officinalis) contains an N-terminal extension that shows homology to the small hemoprotein cytochrome (Cyt) b5. To determine if this domain serves as a functional electron donor for the Delta6-fatty acid desaturase, mutagenesis and functional analysis by expression in transgenic Arabidopsis was carried out. Although expression of the wild-type borage Delta6-fatty acid desaturase resulted in the synthesis and accumulation of Delta6-unsaturated fatty acids, this was not observed in plants transformed with N-terminally deleted forms of the desaturase. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to disrupt one of the axial heme-binding residues (histidine-41) of the Cyt b5 domain; expression of this mutant form of the Delta6-desaturase in transgenic plants failed to produce Delta6-unsaturated fatty acids. These data indicate that the Cyt b5 domain of the borage Delta6-fatty acid desaturase is essential for enzymatic activity.     

小眼虫藻Δ8-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的克隆及其在酿酒酵母中的表达

Δ8途径是合成多不饱和脂肪酸的替代途径,Δ8-脂肪酸脱氢酶是该途径的关键酶之一。根据已报道的Δ8-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因设计引物,分别从小眼虫藻基因组DNA和cDNA中扩增得到该基因片段,序列分析表明：结构基因长1 266 bp,编码421个氨基酸;该基因没有内含子,比已经报道的Δ8-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因长6 bp,并且N末端序列也有所不同。利用酿酒酵母的载体pYES2.0构建Δ8-脂肪酸脱氢酶表达载体pYEFD,并转化到营养缺陷型酿酒酵母菌株INVSc1中,在选择培养基中筛选得到酿酒酵母转化菌株YD8。YD8在合适的培养条件下,添加外源底物二十碳二烯酸和二十碳三烯酸并诱导基因表达。脂肪酸甲酯气相色谱分析表明小眼虫藻Δ8-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在酿酒酵母中获得了高效表达,将二十碳二烯酸和二十碳三烯酸分别转化成二高-γ-亚麻酸和二十碳四烯酸,其底物转化率分别达到了31.2％和46.3％。     

少根根霉Δ^6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在毕赤酵母中的表达

Δ^6-脂肪酸脱氢酶是一种膜整合蛋白,也是多不饱和脂肪酸合成途径中的限速酶。在前期工作中,通过RT-PCR和RACE技术,从少根根霉NK300037中克隆到一个潜在编码Δ^6-脂肪酸脱氢酶的序列,序列和功能分析结果表明该序列具有一个长度为1377bp、编码由458个氨基酸组成、大小为52kD的新的Δ^6-肪酸脱氢酶基因。把少根根霉Δ^6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因（RAD6）亚克隆到表达载体pPIC3．5K,构建重组表达载体pPICRAD6,并转化到毕赤酵母菌株GS115进行表达。提取酵母细胞总脂肪酸和进行甲酯化,经气相色谱和气相色谱-质谱连用分析表明,目的基因的编码产物能将C16：1、C17：1、C18：1、亚油酸和α-亚麻酸在△6和7位间特异性脱氢而引入一个新的双键,生成更高不饱和的脂肪酸,该催化反应没有链长特异性,只有键位特异性。此外,按Kozak序列特点,改变目的基因转译起始密码子周边序列结构,并把改变后序列导入毕赤酵母GS115中进行功能表达分析,结果表明在毕赤酵母中这种改变同样能提高目的基因的表达水平。综合所有分析结果表明,巴斯德毕赤酵母更适合用来综合分析Δ^6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的功能。     

匍枝根霉（Rhizopus stolonifer）As 3.38△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的克隆与酵母表达

通过气相色谱法(GC)快速分析8种真菌的脂肪酸成分,发现匍枝根霉(Rhizopus stolonifer)具有较高的γ-亚麻酸含量,利用RT-PCR和RACE方法获得了全长为1475bp的匍枝根霉△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的cDNA序列,其中开放阅读框为1380bp,编码459个氨基酸。生物信息学分析所克隆的基因具有△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶的典型结构:N端具有细胞色素b5结构、具有3个保守的组氨酸区序列和跨膜结构;把该基因的开放阅读框序列连接到表达载体pYES2.0上,构建重组表达载体pYRnD6D,并将其转入缺陷型酿酒酵母INVScl中进行表达。GC分析表明,该序列在酵母中获得了表达,表达产物表现出△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶的酶学活性,能将底物亚油酸转化为γ-亚麻酸。新生成的γ-亚麻酸占酵母细胞总脂肪酸的12.25%。     

少根根霉△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在毕赤酵母中的表达

△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶是一种膜整合蛋白,也是多不饱和脂肪酸合成途径中的限速酶.在前期工作中,通过RT-PCR和RACE技术,从少根根霉NK300037中克隆到一个潜在编码△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶的序列,序列和功能分析结果表明该序列具有一个长度为1377bp、编码由458个氨基酸组成、大小为52kD的新的△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因.把少根根霉△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因(RAD6)亚克隆到表达载体pPIC3.5K,构建重组表达载体pPICRAD6,并转化到毕赤酵母菌株GS115进行表达.提取酵母细胞总脂肪酸和进行甲酯化,经气相色谱和气相色谱-质谱连用分析表明,目的基因的编码产物能将C16:1、C17:1、C18:1、亚油酸和α-亚麻酸在△6和7位间特异性脱氢而引入一个新的双键,生成更高不饱和的脂肪酸,该催化反应没有链长特异性,只有键位特异性.此外,按Kozak序列特点,改变目的基因转译起始密码子周边序列结构,并把改变后序列导入毕赤酵母GS115中进行功能表达分析,结果表明在毕赤酵母中这种改变同样能提高目的基因的表达水平.综合所有分析结果表明,巴斯德毕赤酵母更适合用来综合分析△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的功能.     

Newly identified essential amino acid residues affecting Δ8-sphingolipid desaturase activity revealed by site-directed mutagenesis

In order to identify amino acid residues crucial for the enzymatic activity of Δ(8)-sphingolipid desaturases, a sequence comparison was performed among Δ(8)-sphingolipid desaturases and Δ(6)-fatty acid desaturases from various plants. In addition to the known conserved cytb(5) (cytochrome b(5)) HPGG motif and three conserved histidine boxes, they share additional 15 completely conserved residues. A series of site-directed mutants were generated using our previously isolated Δ(8)-sphingolipid desaturase gene from Brassica rapa to evaluate the importance of these residues to the enzyme function. The mutants were functionally characterized by heterologous expression in yeast, allowing the identification of the products of the enzymes. The results revealed that residues H63, N203, D208, D210, and G368 were obligatorily required for the enzymatic activity, and substitution of the residues F59, W190, W345, L369 and Q372 markedly decreased the enzyme activity. Among them, replacement of the residues W190, L369 and Q372 also has significant influence on the ratio of the two enzyme products. Information obtained in this work provides the molecular basis for the Δ(8)-sphingolipid desaturase activity and aids in our understanding of the structure-function relationships of the membrane-bound desaturases.     

深黄被孢霉△^6—脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在转基因烟草中的表达

γ—亚麻酸(GLA)是人体和动物饮食中具有营养作用的重要的多烯不饱和脂肪酸,在大多数油料作物种子中不含有GLA,而只含有其前体物亚油酸,只有少数油料植物种子中含有GLA,如夜来香(Oenothera spp),琉璃苣(Borago officinalis)等。△^6—脂肪酸脱氢酶可将亚油酸转化为γ—亚麻酸,为了能够在传统的油料作物种子中产生GLA,我们将从深黄被孢霉中克隆的△^6—脂肪酸脱氢酶基因,与植物表达载体pGA643连接,构建了重组质粒pGAM—ICL6,将其通过农杆菌介导法,导入模式植物烟草中。经PCR和Southern杂交分析表明该基因已导入并整合到烟草的基因组中,Northern杂交结果表明该基因在转基因烟草的mRNA水平上获得表达。对转基因植株进行脂肪酸分析,结果显示,GLA和十八碳四烯酸(OTA)分别占总脂肪酸含量的19．7％和3．5％。     

深黄被孢霉△~6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的克隆及序列分析

γ－亚麻酸（ＧＬＡ,Ｃ１８：３△６,９,１２）是由△６－脂肪酸脱氢酶以亚油酸（ＬＡ,Ｃ１８：２△９,１２）为底物,在Ｃ６位脱氢形成的。由于在人体中,γ－亚麻酸是花生四烯酸、前列腺素类和白三烯类等生理活性物质的前体物,而深黄被孢霉是目前用于微生物发酵生产γ－亚麻酸的主要菌株。本文根据脂肪酸脱氢酶的保守区设计引物,利用反转录聚合酶链式反应从丝状真菌深黄被孢霉中克隆了编码△６－脂肪酸脱氢酶的ｃＤＮＡ,全长为１３７４个核苷酸,编码４５７ 个氨基酸,但与其他位点的脂肪酸脱氢酶不同的是, △６－脂肪酸脱氢酶在其序列的 Ｎ 端特有细胞色素 ｂ５（Ｃｙｔｂ５）区。这是国际上对深黄被孢霉△６－脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的首次报道。     

Identification and functional characterization of the moss Physcomitrella patens delta5-desaturase gene involved in arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid biosynthesis

The moss Physcomitrella patens contains high levels of arachidonic acid and lesser amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid. Here we report the identification and characterization of a delta5-desaturase from P. patens that is associated with the synthesis of these fatty acids. A full-length cDNA for this desaturase was identified by data base searches based on homology to sequences of known delta5-desaturase cDNAs from fungal and algal species. The resulting P. patens cDNA encodes a 480-amino acid polypeptide that contains a predicted N-terminal cytochrome b5-like domain as well as three histidine-rich domains. Expression of the enzyme in Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in the production of the delta5-containing fatty acid arachidonic acid in cells that were provided di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid. In addition, the expressed enzyme generated delta5-desaturation products with the C20 substrates omega-6 eicosadienoic and omega-3 eicosatrienoic acids, but no products were detected with the C18 fatty acid linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids or with the C22 fatty acid adrenic and docosapentaenoic acids. When the corresponding P. patens genomic sequence was disrupted by replacement through homologous recombination, a dramatic alteration in the fatty acid composition was observed, i.e. an increase in di-homo-gamma-linolenic and eicosatetraenoic acids accompanied by a concomitant disappearance of the delta5-fatty acid arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids. In addition, overexpression of the P. patens cDNA in protoplasts isolated from a disrupted line resulted in the restoration of arachidonic acid synthesis.     

Biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid in Euglena gracilis: biochemical and molecular evidence for the involvement of a Delta4-fatty acyl group desaturase

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can be synthesized via alternative routes from which only the omega3/omega6-pathways involve the action of a Delta4-fatty acid desaturase. We examined the suitability of Euglena gracilis, Thraustochytrium sp., Schizochytrium sp., and Crypthecodinium cohnii to serve as sources for cloning a cDNA encoding a Delta4-fatty acid desaturase. For this purpose we carried out in vivo labeling studies with radiolabeled C22 polyunsaturated fatty acid substrates. Schizochytrium sp. was unable to convert exogenously supplied [2-(14)C]-docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5(Delta)(7,10,13,16,19)) to DHA, while E. gracilis and Thraustochytrium sp. carried out this desaturation very efficiently. Hydrogenation and alpha-oxidation of the labeled DHA isolated from these two organisms showed that it was the result of direct Delta4-desaturation and not of substrate breakdown and resynthesis. To clone the desaturase gene, a cDNA library of E. gracilis was subjected to mass sequencing. A full-length clone with highest homology to the Delta4-desaturase of Thraustochytrium sp. was isolated, and its function was verified by heterologous expression in yeast. The desaturase efficiently converted DPA to DHA. Analysis of the substrate specificity demonstrated that the enzyme activity was not limited to C22 fatty acids, since it also efficiently desaturated C16 fatty acids. The enzyme showed strict Delta4-regioselectivity and required the presence of a Delta7-double bond in the substrate. Positional analysis of phosphatidylcholine revealed that the proportion of the Delta4-desaturated products was up to 20 times higher in the sn-2 position than in the sn-1 position.     

雅致枝霉△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的克隆及在酿酒酵母中的表达

根据真菌△^6 -脂肪酸脱氢酶基因保守的组氨酸Ⅱ区和Ⅲ区附近保守序列设计兼并引物进行RT-PCR,得到雅致枝霉（Thamnidium elegans）As3．2806△^6 -脂肪酸脱氢酶基因459bp部分cDNA序列,然后通过快速扩增cDNA末端技术（RACE）向两端延伸得到1504bp的△^6 -脂肪酸脱氢酶基因全长cDNA序列。序列分析表明有一个1377bp、编码459个氨基酸的开放阅读框TED6。推测的氨基酸序列与已知其他真菌的△^6 -脂肪酸脱氧酶基因的氨基酸序列比对,具有3个组氨酸保守区、2个疏水区及N末端细胞色素b5融合区。将此编码区序列亚克隆到酿酒酵母缺陷型菌株INVSel的表达载体pYES2.0中,构建表达载体pYTED6,并在酿酒酵母INVSel中异源表达。通过气相色谱（GC）和气相色谱,质谱（GC-MS）分析表明,该序列在酿酒酵母中获得表达,产生γ-亚麻酸（GLA）的含量占酵母总脂肪酸的7．5％。证明此序列编码的蛋白能将外加的亚油酸转化为γ-亚麻酸,是一个新的有功能的△^6 -脂肪酸脱氢酶基因（GenBank．AY941161）。     

Mutagenesis and heterologous expression in yeast of a plant Delta6-fatty acid desaturase.

Membrane-bound microsomal fatty acid desaturases are known to have three conserved histidine boxes, comprising a total of up to eight histidine residues. Recently, a number of deviations from this consensus have been reported, with the substitution of a glutamine for the first histidine residue of the third histidine box being present in the so called 'front end' desaturases. These enzymes are also characterized by the presence of a cytochrome b5 domain at the protein N-terminus. Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to probe the functional importance of a number of amino acid residues which comprise the third histidine box of a 'front end' desaturase, the borage Delta6-fatty acid desaturase. This showed that the variant glutamine in the third histidine box is essential for enzyme activity and that histidine is not able to substitute for this residue.     

Chain cleavage and sulfoxidation of thiastearoyl-ACP upon reaction with stearoyl-ACP desaturase

The fatty acid analogues 9- and 10-thiastearate were converted to acyl-ACP derivatives by in vitro enzymatic synthesis and reacted with the reconstituted soluble stearoyl-ACP Delta9 desaturase complex. Electrospray ionization mass spectral analysis of the acyl chains purified from the reaction mixtures showed that 10-thiastearoyl-ACP was converted to the 10-sulfoxide as the sole product. In the presence of (18)O(2), the sulfoxide oxygen was found to be derived exclusively from O(2). This result confirms the ability of the soluble stearoyl-ACP desaturase to catalyze O atom transfer in the presence of the appropriate substrate analogue. Inhibition studies showed that 10-thiastearoyl-ACP was a mixed-type inhibitor of 18:0-ACP, with an apparent K(I) of approximately 10 microM. Comparable reactions of the stearoyl-ACP desaturase complex with 9-thiastearoyl-ACP gave the 9-sulfoxide as approximately 5% of the total products, with the O atom again exclusively derived from O(2). The remaining 95% of the total products arose from an acyl chain cleavage reaction between S-9 and C-10. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectral analysis showed that 9-thiastearoyl-ACP had a mass of 9443 amu while the acyl chain cleavage product had a mass of 9322 amu, corresponding to the calculated mass of 8-mercaptooctanoyl-ACP. Recovery of the acyl chain from the ACP product gave the disulfide of 8-mercaptooctanoate (mass of 349.1 amu), arising from the dimerization of 8-mercaptooctanoate during product workup. Gas chromatography-mass spectral analysis also showed the accumulation of nonanal in sealed reaction vials, accounting for the other product of the acyl chain cleavage reaction. The reactivity at both the 9 and 10 positions of the thia-substituted acyl-ACPs is consistent with the proximity of both positions to the diiron center oxidant in the enzyme-substrate complex. Moreover, the differential reactivity of the 9- and 10-thiastearoyl-ACPs also suggests position-dependent consequences of the reaction within the Delta9D active site. Mechanisms accounting for both sulfoxidation and acyl cleavage reactions by the stearoyl-ACP Delta9 desaturase are proposed.     

Fatty acid desaturases from the microalga Thalassiosira pseudonana

Analysis of a draft nuclear genome sequence of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana revealed the presence of 11 open reading frames showing significant similarity to functionally characterized fatty acid front-end desaturases. The corresponding genes occupy discrete chromosomal locations as determined by comparison with the recently published genome sequence. Phylogenetic analysis showed that two of the T. pseudonana desaturase (Tpdes) sequences grouped with proteobacterial desaturases that lack a fused cytochrome b5 domain. Among the nine remaining gene sequences, temporal expression analysis revealed that seven were expressed in T. pseudonana cells. One of these, TpdesN, was previously characterized as encoding a Delta11-desaturase active on palmitic acid. From the six remaining putative desaturase genes, we report here that three, TpdesI, TpdesO and TpdesK, respectively encode Delta6-, Delta5- and Delta4-desaturases involved in production of the health beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Furthermore, we show that one of the remaining genes, TpdesB, encodes a Delta8-sphingolipid desaturase with strong preference for dihydroxylated substrates.     

高山被孢霉Δ6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在毕赤酵母中的胞内表达

γ-亚麻酸(GLA)作为人体必需的不饱和脂肪酸,具有重要的营养和药用价值。△^6-脂肪酸脱氢酶是γ-亚麻酸合成途径中的关键酶。为了在毕赤酵母中建立一种新的合成γ-亚麻酸的表达体系,将高山被孢霉△^6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因与胞内表达载体pPIC3．5K连接,SacⅠ线性化后电击法转化毕赤酵母SMD1168,获得的转化子经PCR鉴定目的基因已整合到毕赤酵母的基因组中。用甲醇诱导表达,通过脂肪酸气相色谱和气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联用分析表明高山被孢霉△^6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在毕赤酵母中获得表达,γ-亚麻酸含量占总脂肪酸的16．26％。