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Isolation and Characterization of a Stress-Dependent Plastidial Δ12 Fatty Acid Desaturase from the Antarctic Microalga Chlorella vulgaris NJ-7

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Lipids

Abstract

An acclimation to the changing physicochemical conditions and high amount of Δ12-unsaturated fatty acids of the Antarctic Chlorella vulgaris NJ-7 prompted us to speculate about the involvement of Δ12-fatty acid desaturases (FAD) in its adaptation to the extremely unfavorable ambience. A full-length cDNA sequence, designated CvFAD6, was isolated from C. vulgaris NJ-7 via RT-PCR and RACE methods. Sequence alignment showed that the gene was homologous to corresponding Δ12-FAD from other eukaryotes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that it was grouped with plastidial Δ12-FAD with conserved histidine boxes. Yeast cells transformed with a plasmid construct containing CvFAD6 coding region accumulated a considerable amount of linoleic acid (18:2Δ9,12), normally not present in wild-type yeast cells, suggesting that the isolated gene encodes a functional Δ12 enzyme. The correlation between the accumulation of CvFAD6 and temperature has been examined by real time PCR. The analysis showed a constant expression of CvFAD6 from 25 to 15 °C whereas a fourfold increased from 25 to 4 °C. Moreover, CvFAD6 transcription was more sensitive to saline stress since a 20-fold increase at 6% NaCl was detected. Our data demonstrate that CvFAD6 is the enzyme responsible for the Δ12 fatty acids desaturation involved in low temperature and high salinity acclimation for Antarctic C. vulgaris NJ-7.

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Abbreviations

FAD:

Fatty acid desaturase

UFA:

Unsaturated fatty acid

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Acknowledgments

We thank Pro. Xu Xudong (Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) for providing the Antarctic microalga strain C. vulgaris NJ-7. This work was supported by the Key Innovative Project of Chinese Academy of Science (KSCX2-YW-G-002, KZCX2-YW-209, KZCX2-YW-225), the National Science Foundation of China (30870247, 30670165, 40876082), the High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (No.2006AA10A114), the National Key Basic Research and Development Project of China (No.2007CB116212) and the Key Technology Research Project of Qingdao (No.07-1-4-16-nsh).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. YanTai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 264003, Yantai, People’s Republic of China

    Yandu Lu & Song Qin

  2. Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China

    Yandu Lu, Fuchao Li & Shaofang Liu

  3. Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Yandu Lu & Shaofang Liu

  4. Shandong Peanut Research Institute, 266100, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoyuan Chi & Qingli Yang

  5. Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 266071, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China

    Zhaoxin Li

  6. Shandong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, 266001, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China

    Qinhua Gan

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  1. Yandu Lu
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Correspondence to Song Qin.

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Lu, Y., Chi, X., Li, Z. et al. Isolation and Characterization of a Stress-Dependent Plastidial Δ12 Fatty Acid Desaturase from the Antarctic Microalga Chlorella vulgaris NJ-7. Lipids 45, 179–187 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-009-3381-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-009-3381-8

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