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Spore germination in Mortierella alpina is associated with a transient depletion of arachidonic acid and induction of fatty acid desaturase gene expression

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Abstract

Mortierella alpina is an oleaginous filamentous fungus whose vegetative mycelium is known to accumulate triglyceride oil containing large amounts of arachidonic acid (ARA 20:4, n − 6). We report that the spores of Mortierella alpina also contain a large proportion of ARA, comprising 50% of total fatty acid. Fatty acid desaturase genes were not expressed in dormant spores but were induced during germination, following a significant drop in the level of ARA (down from 50% of total fatty acid to 12%) prior to germ-tube emergence. We propose that ARA serves as a reserve supply of carbon and energy that is utilised during the early stages of spore germination in Mortierella alpina.

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Abbreviations

ARA:

Arachidonic acid (20:4, n − 6)

FA:

Fatty acid

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl ester

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

RT-PCR:

Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction

TCA:

Tricarboxylic acid

Δ5DS:

Δ5 Fatty acid desaturase gene

Δ6DS:

Δ6 Fatty acid desaturase gene

Δ9DS:

Δ9 Fatty acid desaturase gene

Δ12DS:

Δ12 Fatty acid desaturase gene

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Suntory Ltd, Osaka (CL) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    C. Lounds & D. B. Archer

  2. Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich, NR4 7UA, UK

    J. Eagles, A. T. Carter & D. A. MacKenzie

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  1. C. Lounds
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  2. J. Eagles
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  3. A. T. Carter
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  4. D. A. MacKenzie
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  5. D. B. Archer
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Correspondence to D. B. Archer.

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Communicated by Axel Brakhage.

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Lounds, C., Eagles, J., Carter, A.T. et al. Spore germination in Mortierella alpina is associated with a transient depletion of arachidonic acid and induction of fatty acid desaturase gene expression. Arch Microbiol 188, 299–305 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-007-0248-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-007-0248-3

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