• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.446-458
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• 2008

Essential fatty acids (EFA) are fatty acids that must be obtained from the diet because they can not be biosynthesized by human or animals. Gamma fatty acids contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DHGLA, 20:3n-6) as intermediate metabolites of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6), which is an EFA found in vegetable oils. GLA is an important essential fatty acid that is required by human and animals to function normally. Recently, studies have indicated that GLA may be an essential component of the cell membrane, as well as an active component of dietary supplements and medicine. GLA must beadministered through the diet because it is converted into DHGLA in the body quickly and completely. DHGLA is a key material involved in the metabolism of LA. GLA is biosysthesized by the rate limiting step of ${\Deltac}^6$-desaturase, which is an enzyme that desaturates LA, there by allowing it to be converted into DHGLA via chain elongation. In addition, DHGLA exerts bioactive effects via action as a precursor of eicosanoid series 1. Breast milk contains an abundant amount of GLA; however, GLA is also available directly in evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil, borage oil and hemp seed oil. In addition, GLA enriched animal and plant can be produced using biotechnology, and highly pure GLA can be extracted using supercritical fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide, which will allow economically feasible production of GLA for use in medicines.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.341-346
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• 2016

The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate the efficiency of the protocol of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cucumber to introduce phytoene synthase-2a carotene desaturase (PAC genes); 2) demonstrate the integration of PAC genes into the genome of putative transgenic cucumber based on growth on selection medium, PCR and Southern analysis; 3) evaluate the expression of PAC genes in transgenic cucumber based on the analysis of RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization. Out of 5,945 cotyledonary-node explants inoculated with Agrobacterium, 65 (1.1%) explants produced 238 shoots. Integration of PAC genes into the genome of the cucumber was demonstrated based on the analysis of gDNA-PCR, 21 out of the 238 plants regenerated; while 6 plants proved positive for Southern blot hybridization. Transgene expression was demonstrated based on analysis of RT-PCR, 6 plants proved positive out of the 6 plants analyzed; while 4 plants out of 6 proved positive during Northern blot hybridization. This study successfully demonstrated the production of transgenic cucumber, integration, and expression of the PAC gene in cucumber.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.201-210
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• 2007

Soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] oil is versatile and used in many products. Modifying the fatty acid profile would make soy oil more functional in food and other products. The ideal oil with the most end uses would have saturates(palmitic + stearic acids) reduced from 15 to < 7%, oleic acid increased from 23 to > 55%, and linolenic acid reduced from 8 to < 3%. Reduced palmitic acid(16:0) is conditioned by three or more recessive alleles at the Fap locus. QTLs for reduced palmitic acid have mapped to linkage groups(LGs) A1, A2, B2, H, J, and L. Genes at the Fad locus control oleic acid content(18:1). Six QTLs($R^2$=4-25%) for increased 18:1 in N00-3350(50 to 60% 18:1) explained four to 25% of the phenotypic variation. M23, a Japanese mutant line with 40 to 50% 18:1 is controlled by a single recessive gene, ol. A candidate gene for FAD2-1A can be used in marker-assisted breeding for high 18:1 from M23. Low linolenic acid(18:3) is desirable in soy oil to reduce hydrogenation and trans-fat accumulation. Three independent recessive genes affecting omega-3 fatty acid desaturase enzyme activity are responsible for the lower 18:3 content in soybeans. Linolenic acid can be reduced from 8 to about 4, 2, and 1% from copies of one, two, or three genes, respectively. Using a candidate gene approach perfect markers for three microsomal omega-3 desaturase genes have been characterized and can readily be used in for marker assisted selection in breeding for low 18:3.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases associated with an altered lifestyle, besides genetic factors. The control and management of NAFLD mostly depend on lifestyle modifications, due to the lack of a specific therapeutic approach. In this context, we assessed the effect of carrot juice on the development of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. For this purpose, male weanling Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, fed either a control (Con) or high fructose (HFr) diet of AIN93G composition, with or without carrot juice (CJ) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, plasma biochemical markers, such as triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and ${\beta}$-hydroxy butyrate levels were comparable among the 4 groups. Although, the liver injury marker, aspartate aminotransferase, levels in plasma showed a reduction, hepatic triglycerides levels were not significantly reduced by carrot juice ingestion in the HFr diet-fed rats (HFr-CJ). On the other hand, the key triglyceride synthesis pathway enzyme, hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), expression at mRNA level was augmented by carrot juice ingestion, while their protein levels showed a significant reduction, which corroborated with decreased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), particularly palmitoleic (C16:1) and oleic (C18:1) acids. Notably, it also improved the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6) content of the liver in HFr-CJ. In conclusion, carrot juice ingestion decreased the SCD1-mediated production of MUFA and improved DHA levels in liver, under high fructose diet-fed conditions. However, these changes did not significantly lower the hepatic triglyceride levels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1127-1133
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• 2018

Objective: Genome wide association study was conducted to identify and validate candidate genes associated with fatty acid composition of pork. Methods: A total of 480 purebreed Duroc pigs were genotyped using IlluminaPorcine60k bead chips while the association test was implemented following genome-wide rapid association using Mixed Model and Regression-Genomic Control (GRAMMAR-GC) approach. Results: A total of 25, 29, and 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly associated with stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), respectively. Genome wide significant variants were located on the same region of swine chromosome 14 (SSC14) that spanned from 120 to 124 Mb. Top SNP ALGA008191 was located at 5 kb near the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene. This gene is directly involved in desaturation of stearic acid into oleic acid. General relationship of significant SNPs showed high linkage disequilibrium thus genome-wide signals was attributed to SCD gene. However, understanding the role of other genes like elongation of very long chain fatty acids-3 (ELOVL3) located on this chromosomal segment might help in further understanding of metabolism and biosynthesis of fatty acids. Conclusion: Overall, this study provides evidence that validates SCD gene as strong candidate gene associated with fatty acid composition in Duroc pigs. Moreover, this study confirms significant SNPs near ELOVL3 gene.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.153-160
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• 2006

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an attractive reverse-genetics tool for studying gene function in plants. We showed that silencing of a phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene is maintained throughout TRV-PDS-inoculated tomato plants as well as in their flowers and fruit and is enhanced by low temperature ($15^{\circ}C$) and low humidity (30%). RT-PCR analysis of the PDS gene revealed a dramatic reduction in the level of PDS mRNA in leaves, flowers and fruits. Silencing of PDS results in the accumulation of phytoene, the desaturase substrate. In addition, the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll in the leaves of PDS-silenced plants was reduced by more than 90%. We also silenced the LeEIN2 gene by infecting seedlings, and this suppressed fruit ripenning. We conclude that this VIGS approach should facilitate large-scale functional analysis of genes involved in the development and ripening of tomato.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.297-307
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) during in vitro maturation (IVM) on cumulus expansion, nuclear maturation, fertilization capacity and subsequent development in porcine oocytes. The oocytes were incubated with 0, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}M$ ALA. Cumulus expansion was measured at 22 h, and gene expresison and nuclear maturation were analyzed at 44 h after maturation. Then, mature oocytes with ALA were inseminated, and fertilization parameters and embryo development were evaluated. In results, both of cumulus expansion and nuclear maturation were increased in $50{\mu}M$ ALA groups compared to control groups (p<0.05). However, expression of gap junction protein alpha 1 (GJA1, cumulus expansion-related gene), delta-6 desaturase (FADS1, fatty acid metabolism-related gene), and delta-5 desaturase (FADS2) mRNA in cumulus cells were reduced by $50{\mu}M$ ALA treatment (p<0.05). Cleavage rate was enhanced in 25 and $50{\mu}M$ ALA groups (p<0.05), especially, treatment of $50{\mu}M$ ALA promoted early embryo develop to 4 and 8 cell stages (p<0.05). However, blastocyst formation and number of cells in blastocyst were not differ in 25 and $50{\mu}M$ ALA groups. Our findings show that ALA treatment during maturation could improve nuclear maturation, fertilization, and early embryo development through enhancing of cumulus expansion, however, fatty acid metabolism- and cumulus expansion-related genes were down-regulated. Therefore, addition of ALA during IVM of oocytes could improve fertilization and developmental competence, and further studies regarding with the mechanism of ALA metabolism are needed.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2015

Production of biodiesel from microalgae is dependent on the microalgal lipid content and free fatty acid composition. Both lipid and free fatty acid are regulated by nutrient sources. In this study, newly developed mutant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with higher lipid content was investigated for the effect of nutrient limitation. Nitrogen $NO_3{^{-}}$ and phosphate $PO_4{^{3-}}$ were limited for nutrient starvation during the cultivation. Under nutrient starvation, total lipid content level was increased to 27~33% and C16:0 fatty acid content constituted over 31~43% of total fatty acid. Interestingly, we also found that the expression of fatty acid desaturase (FAD7) was decreased when nutrients were starved.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.404-412
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• 2016

We hypothesized that supplementing finishing diets with palm oil would promote adipogenic gene expression and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene expression in subcutaneous (s.c.) and intramuscular (i.m.) adipose tissues of feedlot steers. Eighteen Angus and Angus crossbred steers were assigned to three groups of 6 steers and fed a basal diet (control), with 3% palm oil, or with 3% soybean oil, for 70 d, top-dressed daily. Tailhead s.c. adipose tissue was obtained by biopsy at 14 d before the initiation of dietary treatments and at 35 d of dietary treatments. At slaughter, after 70 d of dietary treatment, tailhead s.c. adipose tissue and i.m. adipose tissue were obtained from the longissimus thoracis muscle. Palm oil increased plasma palmitic acid and soybean oil increased plasma linoleic acid and ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid relative to the initial sampling time. Expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha ($AMPK{\alpha}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) increased between the initial and intermediate biopsies and declined thereafter (p<0.03). SCD gene expression did not change between the initial and intermediate biopsies but declined by over 75% by the final period (p = 0.04), and G-coupled protein receptor 43 (GPR43) gene expression was unaffected by diet or time on trial. Soybean oil decreased (p = 0.01) $PPAR{\gamma}$ gene expression at the intermediate sample time. At the terminal sample time, $PPAR{\gamma}$ and SCD gene expression was less in i.m. adipose tissue than in s.c. adipose tissue (p<0.05). $AMPK{\alpha}$ gene expression was less in s.c. adipose tissue of palm oil-fed steers than in control steers (p = 0.04) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein-beta ($CEBP{\beta}$) gene expression was less in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissues of palm oil-fed steers than in soybean oil-fed steers (p<0.03). Soybean oil decreased SCD gene expression in s.c. adipose tissue (p = 0.05); SCD gene expression in palm oil-fed steers was intermediate between control and soybean oil-fed steers. Contrary to our original hypothesis, palm oil did not promote adipogenic gene expression in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissue.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.441-449
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to compare the biological activities of whole-plant (WAE), bulb (BAE), and leaf (LAE) extracts of Allium macrostemon. The antioxidant activities, total polyphenol contents, and anti-adipogenic activities of WAE and LAE were superior to those of BAE, whereas the biological effects of WAE and LAE were similar. Therefore, the effect of LAE on adipogenesis was further investigated. Treatment of preadipocytes with LAE at 100 g/mL resulted in the inhibition of intracellular lipid accumulation by 49.64%. Consistent with this result, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR showed that LAE treatment decreased the gene expressions of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPβ), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), C/EBPα and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1). Thus, LAE attenuates the adipogenesis of preadipocytes by suppressing the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes. These results suggest that LAE can be potentially useful as a functional ingredient to prevent obesity in the food industry.