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Expression Analysis for Genes Involved in Arachidonic Acid Biosynthesis in Mortierella alpina CBS 754.68

Summary

This research examined how a specific fungus produces an important fatty acid called arachidonic acid (ARA), which is valuable for human health. The study analyzed how different genes are involved in producing this compound and what conditions affect its production. Impacts on everyday life: • Better understanding of how to produce essential fatty acids for dietary supplements and infant formula • Improved methods for industrial production of nutritional compounds • Potential for developing more efficient and cost-effective ways to produce healthy fatty acids • Contribution to our understanding of how organisms produce beneficial compounds • Applications in developing better food and nutritional products

Background

Arachidonic acid (ARA) is a long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that plays important roles in biological membranes. Lower fungi of Zygomycetes, especially Mortierella alpina, serve as rich sources of PUFAs. The biosynthetic pathways and genes regulating key steps in PUFA biosynthesis have only recently been identified. The genes involved in ARA and lipid biosynthesis are classified into three groups: desaturase, elongase and malic encoding genes.

Objective

To investigate the time courses of fungal growth, phenolic content, lipid accumulation, ARA production and substrate consumption in Mortierella alpina CBS 754.68. Additionally, to examine the expression levels of genes encoding desaturase, elongase, and malic enzyme involved in ARA and lipid biosynthesis under optimal conditions.

Results

A significant increase in arachidonic acid content in lipids coincided with reduced levels of lipid in biomass. Gene expression was reduced due to steady reduction of carbon and nitrogen resources. This was compensated by breakdown of accumulated lipids, which induced up-regulated expression of candidate genes. The expression of GLELO encoding gene was identified as a rate-limiting step in ARA biosynthesis during early growth phase.

Conclusion

The expression of target genes depends on culture conditions. ARA accumulation increases in parallel with reduced expression of the malic enzyme encoding gene, coinciding with reduced levels of lipid in dry biomass.
  • Published in:Brazilian Journal of Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1590/s1517-83822014000200010
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