Biological Role of Unsaturated Fatty Acid Desaturases in Health and Disease

Abstract

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are considered one of the most important components of cells that influence normal development and function of many organisms, both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Unsaturated fatty acid desaturases play a crucial role in the synthesis of PUFAs, inserting additional unsaturated bonds into the acyl chain. The level of expression and activity of different types of desaturases determines profiles of PUFAs. It is well recognized that qualitative and quantitative changes in the PUFA profile, resulting from alterations in the expression and activity of fatty acid desaturases, are associated with many pathological conditions. Understanding of underlying mechanisms of fatty acid desaturase activity and their functional modification will facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies in diseases associated with qualitative and quantitative disorders of PUFA.

Lipid ratios representing SCD1, FADS1, and FADS2 activities as candidate biomarkers of early growth and adiposity

“…In infants, the demand for PUFA is different from adults. Moreover, the genetic makeup may contribute to differences in plasma lipid profiles, since single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FADS genes can modulate desaturase activity [30] . Furthermore, pre- (maternal) and postnatal feeding could influence circulating desaturase activity markers.…”

ChREBP-Mediated Regulation of Lipid Metabolism: Involvement of the Gut Microbiota, Liver, and Adipose Tissue

“…In fatty acid synthesis, both ChREBP and SREBP-1c induce Acc , which encodes an enzyme that is required for the conversion of acetyl CoA to malonyl CoA, and Fasn , which encodes an enzyme that is required for the production of palmitoyl CoA from malonyl CoA and acetyl CoA ( 9 , 10 , 13 , 34 , 51 ). In fatty acid elongation and desaturation, ChREBP induces the expression of the stearoyl CoA desaturase-1 gene ( Scd-1 ) and Elovl6 , both of which are required for the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), while SREBP-1c induces Elovl2 , fatty acid desaturase 1, and fatty acid desaturase 2, which are required for the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as well as Scd-1 and Elovl6 ( Figure 2 ) ( 52 – 56 ). Consistent with this, hepatic Chrebp overexpression reduces the concentrations of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), such as palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0); and increases that of the MUFA oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) ( 32 , 57 ).…”

Short communication: Effects of Canarium indicum oil in enhancing brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rats

“…The results of some studies suggested that the intake of linoleic acid (C18: 2n-6), palmitic acid, and oleic acid which esterified in the sn-2 position on triglycerides correlating to the levels of arachidonic acid (C20: 4n-6), palmitoleic acid (C16: 1n-7) and eicosatrienoic acid (C20: 3n-9) as a result of successive metabolism of linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid. It can be seen from the reduced concentration of linoleic acid which is accompanied by increased concentration of arachidonic acid in plasma (Zhang et al 2016;Czumaj and Śledziński 2020). A similar case also occurred in the metabolism of fatty acids in the COST.…”