PUBLICATION

Expression of Masu Salmon Delta5-Desaturase-Like Gene Elevated EPA and DHA Biosynthesis in Zebrafish

Authors
Alimuddin, Yoshizaki, G., Kiron, V., Satoh, S., and Takeuchi, T.
ID
ZDB-PUB-061227-14
Date
2007
Source
Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)   9(1): 92-100 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
DHA, EPA, fatty acid Δ5 desaturase, masu salmon, transgenic, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Actins/analysis
  • Animal Feed/analysis
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified/physiology*
  • Artemia/chemistry
  • Body Weight/physiology
  • DNA Primers
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids/analysis
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids/metabolism
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid/analysis
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid/biosynthesis
  • Fatty Acid Desaturases/biosynthesis*
  • Fatty Acid Desaturases/genetics
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3/analysis
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3/biosynthesis*
  • Female
  • Food Technology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/physiology*
  • Lipids/analysis
  • Male
  • Oncorhynchus/genetics
  • RNA, Messenger/analysis
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
17136489 Full text @ Mar. Biotechnol.
Abstract
Farmed fish could substitute for marine capture fish as a source of fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) beneficial for human health; however, they require these compounds in their diets. In the present study on a model fish species, we modified the EPA/DHA biosynthesis pathway by overexpression of masu salmon Delta5-desaturase-like gene in zebrafish to increase its ability to synthesize EPA and DHA. Expression of this gene in transgenic fish fed a commercial diet and Artemia helped to improve their EPA content by 1.21-fold and DHA by 1.24-fold. In similar fish that were fed only Artemia the increments were 1.14-fold for EPA and 1.13-fold for DHA, compared with nontransgenic fish. In contrast, eicosatetraenoic acid content decreased, as it is a substrate of Delta5-desaturase, while the total lipid remained constant. The results demonstrated that masu salmon Delta5-desaturase is functional in zebrafish and can modify its fatty acid metabolic pathway. The technique could be applied to farmed fish to generate a nutritionally richer product for human consumption.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping