Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in the diatomPhaeodactylum tricornutum

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Abstract
The biosynthesis of fatty acids in the diatomPhaeodactylum tricornutum was studied. The diatom was incubated with sodium [114C] acetate and the acids [1‐14C] palmitic, [1‐14C] stearic, [1‐14C] linoleic and [1‐14C] α‐linolenic. The distribution of radioactivity in the products was determined by gas liquid radiochromatography. The diatom synthesized “de novo” not only saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, but also linoleic, α‐linolenic and other fatty acids including the highly polyunsaturated 20∶5ω3 and 22∶6ω3. When labeled acetate, stearic, α‐linolenic or even linoleic acid were incubated with the diatom, the polyunsaturated C20 fatty acids synthesized belonged predominantly to the ω 3 family. The existence of Δ9, Δ6, Δ5, Δ4, ω6 and possibly ω3 desaturases inP. tricornutum is suggested.

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