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Generation of fad2 transgenic mice that produce omega-6 fatty acids

Science in China Series C: Life Sciences volume 52, pages 1048–1054 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Fatty acid desaturase-2 (FAD2) introduces a double bond in position Δ12 in oleic acid (18:1) to form linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) in higher plants and microbes. A new transgenic expression cassette, containing CMV promoter/fad2 cDNA/SV40 polyA, was constructedto produce transgenic mice. Among 63 healthy offspring, 10 founders (15.9%) integrated the cotton fad2 transgene into their genomes, as demonstrated by PCR and Southern blotting analysis. All founder mice were fertile and heterozygous fad2 female and nontransgenic littermates were used for fatty acid analysis using gas chromatography. One fad2 transgenic line showed substantial differences in the fatty acid profiles and the level of linoleic acid was increased 19% (P<0.05) in transgenic muscles compared to their nontransgenic littermates. Moreover, it exhibited an 87% and a 9% increase (P<0.05) in arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) in muscles and liver, compared to their nontransgenic littermates. The results indicate that the plant fad2 gene can be functionally expressed in transgenic mice and may playan active role in conversion of oleic acid into linoleic acid.

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Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    Qing Chen, ZhiFang Wu & KeMian Gou

  2. Blackmountain Laboratory, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, Australia

    Qing Liu

  3. College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    ZongYi Wang

Authors
  1. Qing Chen
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  2. Qing Liu
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  3. ZhiFang Wu
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  4. ZongYi Wang
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  5. KeMian Gou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to KeMian Gou.

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2004CB117500), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30571332), and the National Major Special Project on New Varieties Cultivation for Transgenic Organisms (Grant No. 2008ZX08008-003)

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Chen, Q., Liu, Q., Wu, Z. et al. Generation of fad2 transgenic mice that produce omega-6 fatty acids. SCI CHINA SER C 52, 1048–1054 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-009-0143-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-009-0143-z

Keywords

  • fatty acid desaturase
  • FAD2
  • transgenic mouse
  • oleic acid
  • linoleic acid
  • arachidonic acid