Molecular cloning, mRNA expression and nutritional regulation of a Δ6 fatty acyl desaturase-like gene of mud crab, Scylla paramamosain

Fatty acyl desaturases (Fads) are critical enzymes in the pathways for the biosynthesis of the highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). Here we report on the molecular cloning, tissue expression and nutritional regulation of a Δ6 fatty acyl desaturase-like (Δ6 Fad-like) gene from mud crab, Scylla paramamosain. The full-length cDNA was 1973 bp, with a 201 bp of 5′-UTR, a 443 bp of 3′-UTR, and an ORF of 1329 bp that encoded a protein of 442 amino acids. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the deduced peptide sequence possessed the typical features of the microsomal Fads, including N-terminal cytochrome b5 domain containing the heme-binding motif (H-P-G-G), three histidine-rich boxes and three membrane-spanning regions. Sequence comparison revealed that the predicted protein had a high percentage identity (> 53%) with Δ6 Fads from other crustacean species. The tissue distribution of mud crab Δ6 Fad-like mRNA was found predominantly in hepatopancreas, with lower expression levels in all other tissues. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the Δ6 Fad-like transcriptional levels in hepatopancreas gradually increased with the increased replacement of dietary fish oil (FO) by soybean oil (SO). The replacement ratio of FO by SO up to 60%, 80%, and 100% were significantly up-regulated by about 2.40-fold, 2.99-fold and 3.02-fold compared with that in the control group (100% FO) respectively (P < 0.05). These results may contribute to better understanding the HUFA biosynthetic pathway and regulation mechanism in this species.