Abstract
Linoleic acid (18 : 2, n-6) and α-linolenic acid (18 : 3, n-3) are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are essential for mammalian health, development and growth. However, the majority of mammals, including humans, are incapable of synthesizing n-6 and n-3 PUFAs. Mammals must obtain n-6 and n-3 PUFAs from their diet. Fatty acid desaturase (Fad) plays a critical role in plant PUFA biosynthesis. Therefore, we generated plant-derived Fad3 single and Fad2–Fad3 double transgenic mice. Compared with wild-type mice, we found that PUFA levels were greatly increased in the single and double transgenic mice by measuring PUFA levels. Moreover, the concentration of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs in the Fad2–Fad3 double transgenic mice were greater than in the Fad3 single transgenic mice. These results demonstrate that the plant-derived Fad2 and Fad3 genes can be expressed in mammals. To clarify the mechanism for Fad2 and Fad3 genes in transgenic mice, we measured the PUFAs synthesis-related genes. Compared with wild-type mice, these Fad transgenic mice have their own n-3 and n-6 PUFAs biosynthetic pathways. Thus, we have established a simple and efficient method for in vivo synthesis of PUFAs.
Highlights
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) consist of more than two double bonds, and are required for mammalian and human health [1,2]
As estimating the transgene copy number is a significant step in transgenic animal research, we investigated the Fad3 gene in the transgenic mice
The transgenic copy number was obtained by comparing the initial template copy of Fad3 with that of Gapdh
Summary
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) consist of more than two double bonds, and are required for mammalian and human health [1,2]. The n-6 PUFAs mainly include linoleic acid (LA; 18 : 2, n-6), γ-linolenic acid (γ-LA; 18 : 3, n-6) and arachidonic acid (AA; 20 : 4, n-6). The n-3 PUFAs mainly include α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18 : 3, n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20 : 5, n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22 : 6, n-3) [1,4]. In a human newborn study, PUFAs are required to maintain normal retinal and brain development [5]. Plants and microorganisms can synthesize PUFAs by themselves because they have their own desaturases [3,10]. Mammals are unable to synthesize n-6 and n-3 PUFAs [11], because they lack delta (Δ)-12 and Δ-15 desaturases. Mammals and humans must consume the necessary n-6 and n-3 PUFAs in their diet
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