MarpolBase - Isolation and characterization of delta(6)-desaturase, an ELO-like enzyme and delta(5)-desaturase from the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and production of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.

Isolation and characterization of delta(6)-desaturase, an ELO-like enzyme and delta(5)-desaturase from the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and production of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.

Kajikawa M, Yamato KT, Kohzu Y, Nojiri M, Sakuradani E, Shimizu S, Sakai Y, Fukuzawa H, Ohyama K. · 2004 · Plant Mol Biol research

Gene ID	Name	Evidence / Role	Function (this paper)
Mp7g08840	MpDES	sequence subject	A fourth desaturase gene (GenBank AY583466), distinct from the three PUFA-pathway cDNAs, isolated by representational difference analysis; its sequence was exploited to design Delta-5-desaturase primers. Phylogenetically it groups with sphingolipid Delta-8-desaturases, suggesting a role in sphingolipid (rather than PUFA) desaturation; identified at sequence level, not functionally assayed. Confirmed from the Springer full-text PDF.
Mp3g13250	MpDES5	experimental subject	Delta-5-desaturase cDNA isolated and characterized; together with MpDES6 and MpELO1 reconstituted arachidonic/eicosapentaenoic acid synthesis in yeast.
Mp6g17330	MpDES6	experimental subject	Delta-6-desaturase cDNA isolated and functionally characterized; its co-expression with MpELO1 and MpDES5 in Pichia pastoris produced arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids. Delta-6 desaturation appeared to occur in both glycerolipids and the acyl-CoA pool.
Mp6g02350	MpELO1	experimental subject	ELO-like enzyme mediating Delta-6 elongation; isolated and characterized, and co-expressed with MpDES6/MpDES5 in Pichia to reconstitute C20 PUFA biosynthesis.