Identification of a Δ5-like Fatty Acyl Desaturase from the Cephalopod Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier 1797) Involved in the Biosynthesis of Essential Fatty Acids

Insights into the phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary histories of Fad and Elovl gene families in Actiniaria

“…Research investigating the Fad and Elovl gene families that desaturate and elongate LC‐PUFAs has largely been restricted to bilaterian taxa (Carmona‐Antoñanzas et al., 2011; Castro et al., 2012; Fonseca‐Madrigal et al., 2014; Kabeya et al., 2017; Li et al., 2017; Li et al., 2010; Mohd‐Yusof et al., 2010; Monroig, Guinot, et al., 2012; Monroig, Navarro, et al., 2012; Monroig, Webb, et al., 2011; Monroig et al., 2010, 2016, 2017, 2013; Morais et al., 2009; Surm et al., 2015). We have investigated the phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary histories of the Fad and Elovl gene families in phylum Cnidaria, to provide insights into evolution and the distribution of these gene families in Metazoa outside of bilaterian taxa.…”

“…Similarly, whole genome duplication events have resulted in the diversification of elongase enzymes observed in vertebrates (Elovl2 and 5) not present in other chordates, which contain a single elongase enzyme referred to as Elovl2/5 (Castro, Tocher, & Monroig, 2016; Monroig et al., 2016). Gene duplication events of Fad and Elovl gene families have also occurred in a lineage‐specific manner across other bilaterian taxa, such as molluscs (Monroig, Navarro, et al., 2012; Surm et al., 2015). Despite these key observations, the distribution and evolution of Fad and Elovl genes remain unresolved in early diverging metazoan phyla such as Cnidaria.…”

Investigating the essential fatty acids in the common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Mollusca, Cephalopoda): Molecular cloning and functional characterisation of fatty acyl desaturase and elongase

“…The common octopus Fad showed Δ5 desaturation activity towards saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acyl substrates (Monroig et al, 2012a). Likewise, a full-length cDNA sequence encoding an Elovl-like protein identified from O. vulgaris had high homology to vertebrate Elovl2 and Elovl5 enzymes (Monroig et al, 2012b).…”

“…The identification of EPA and DHA as essential fatty acids (EFA) for cuttlefish hatchlings was based on the high contents of these fatty acids (FA) in hatchlings (Navarro and Villanueva, 2000). Recently, the EFA requirements of Octopus vulgaris have been recently characterised through the characterisation of genes encoding enzymes involved in PUFA biosynthetic pathways including fatty acyl desaturases (Fad) and elongation of very long-chain fatty acid (Elovl) proteins (Monroig et al, 2012a(Monroig et al, , 2012b. This approach proved an invaluable tool to identify the specific FA fulfilling the EFA requirements for any animal species (Bell and Tocher, 2009), but was particularly useful in cephalopod early life-cycle stages where availability and viability of individuals to run feeding trials cannot always be guaranteed, and where there is total reliance on live prey-based diets where levels of PUFA cannot be fully controlled (Guinot et al, 2013a(Guinot et al, , 2013b.…”

Characterization of membrane-bound fatty acid desaturases

“…The genes for Δ5-desaturase have been isolated from many organisms e.g. Caenorhabditis elegans (Michaelson et al 1998), various strain of Mortierella alpina (Tavares et al 2011), Rattus norvegicus (Zolfaghari et al 2001), Pavlova saliva (Zhou et al 2007), Naegleria gruberi (Fritz-Laylin et al 2010), Pythium irregulare (Hong et al 2002a), Homo sapiens (Cho et al 1999a), Octopus vulgaris (Monroig et al 2011) etc. Figure 4 shows the alignment of these sequences.…”