Elovl5转基因果蝇产生更长链的脂肪酸

Transgenesis of Drosophila melanogaster with an Elovl5 gene enables the production of longer-chain fatty acids

摘要:

大多数昆虫体内的多不饱和脂肪酸 (Polyunsaturated fatty acids，PUFAs) 主要是碳链长为18个碳原子的多不饱和脂肪酸 (C18-PUFAs)，几乎不含价值更高、生物活性更强的C20、C22等长链的多不饱和脂肪酸。文中利用黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly) 作为生物模型，将来源于小鼠的Δ6-脂肪酸延长酶Elovl5基因优化后转移到果蝇中使其表达。结果表明通过显微注射法成功将含有Elovl5基因的载体导入果蝇胚胎中，在荧光显微镜下检测到在果蝇整个发育阶段均有增强型绿色荧光蛋白 (Enhanced green fluorescent protein，EGFP) 表达，同时Elovl5基因的表达显著地促使果蝇体内C18多不饱和脂肪酸向着更长链多不饱和脂肪酸的生物合成方向转化。使用转基因技术得到体内富含C20、C22等长链多不饱和脂肪酸的转基因果蝇模型，将为进一步开展果蝇多不饱和脂肪酸生物合成的机制提供研究基础。

Abstract:

In most insects, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids with a carbon-chain length less than 18 carbon atoms, hardly any long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as C20 and C22 that are more valuable and bioactive. This study, by using Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly) as a model organism, optimized the Δ6-fatty acid elongase enzyme Elovl5 gene from mice and transferred it to fruit flies for expression. Vectors containing Elovl5 gene were successfully injected into drosophila embryo through the microscopic injection. There were enhanced green fluorescent proteins expressed in the whole developmental stage of Drosophila be means of fluorescence microscope. At the same time, expression of Elovl5 gene significantly contributed to the transformation of fruit flies C18-polyunsaturated fatty acids in the body towards the biosynthesis of longer-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The transgenic fruit fly model rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as C20 and C22 were obtained, providing a basis for further research on biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in fruit flies.