Cloning, characterization and transcription analysis of fatty acyl desaturase ( Δ6Fad‐like ) and elongase ( Elovl4‐like , Elove5‐like ) during embryos development of Strongylocentrotus intermedius

Abstract

Strongylocentrotus intermedius has high nutritional value because it is rich in proteins, amino acids and long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFA). LC‐PUFA are essential nutrients that not only determine the nutritional value of sea urchins but also guarantee normal growth and reproduction performance. To better understand the molecular basis of LC‐PUFA biosynthesis in S. intermedius, the Δ6Fad‐like, Elovl4‐like and Elovl5‐like genes were cloned and fatty acid compositions during the early developmental stages of sea urchins were detected. The full‐length of Δ6Fad‐like was 2,199 bp, with a putative open reading frame of 1,248 bp encoding a polypeptide of 415 amino acid (AA). The Elovl4‐like and Elovl5‐like genes encoded 310 and 234 AA, respectively, which exhibited all of the characteristics of the Elovl family, such as a histidine box motif and putative transmembrane‐spanning domains. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that Δ6Fad‐like, Elovl4‐like and Elovl5‐like genes were expressed at the highest levels in the gonads and intestine, and the expression levels gradually increased in embryos during development. These results can help to understand the role of the Δ6Fad‐like, Elovl4‐like and Elovl5‐like genes in the different developmental stages of the sea urchin and to clarify the biosynthetic pathways of LC‐PUFA during the development of the sea urchin and provide a theoretical basis for improving the quality and breeding of excellent traits in sea urchins.

Effects of lipid sources on the growth performance, gonad development, fatty acid profile and transcription of related genes in juvenile sea urchin ( Strongylocentrotus intermedius )

“…Aquatic animals could efficiently convert 18:2n‐6 to 18:3n‐6 via Δ6 desaturase, and 18:2n‐6 to 20:2n‐6 via Elovl5 (Tocher, 2015). In our previous study, two elongases (Elovl4 and Elovl5) were cloned from S. intermedius (Ding et al., 2019). Elovl4 from tunicate ( Ciona intestinalis ) was capable of elongating a range of PUFA substrates with chain lengths from C 18 to C 22 (Meyer et al., 2004).…”

Effects of dietary n‐3 LC‐PUFA on the growth performance, gonad development, fatty acid profile, transcription of related genes and intestinal microflora in adult sea urchin ( Strongylocentrotus intermedius )

“…Its functional characterization in yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) found that two of them showed Δ8 activity, and the other one showed Δ5 activity (Kabeya et al., 2017). Recently, two elongase (Elovl4 and Elovl5) and desaturase (Δ6 and Δ5 desaturases) were cloned from S. intermedius by our research team (Ding et al., 2019; Han et al., 2019). However, it is still unknown about the effects of dietary n‐3 LC‐PUFA on the transcription of rate‐limiting enzymes during the PUFA biosynthesis in adult S. intermedius .…”

Silica-Containing Biomimetic Composites Based on Sea Urchin Skeleton and Polycalcium Organyl Silsesquioxane

“…First, Strongylocentrotus intermedius has a high nutritional value. It is rich in proteins, amino acids, and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [ 47 ]. Second, it is used for the assessment of its sensitivity to several common toxicants, such as heavy metal ions, pesticides, detergents, and water-soluble hydrocarbons from diesel fuel [ 48 ].…”