Identification of a cytochrome b5-fusion desaturase responsible for the synthesis of triunsaturated sphingolipid long chain bases in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana

► Functional characterisation of a new sphingolipid modifying enzyme in yeast. ► Identification of the enzyme responsible for generating triunsaturated LCBs. ► Addition of a new activity to the cytochrome b5 fusion desaturase family. ► Detection of orthologues in highly divergent animal species.