The subject invention relates to the identification of several genes involved in the elongation of polyunsaturated acids (i.e., “elongases”) and to uses thereof. At least two of these genes are also involved in the elongation of monounsaturated fatty acids. In particular, elongase is utilized in the conversion of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) to dihomogamma linolenic acid (DGLA) and in the conversion of AA to adrenic acid (ADA), or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to &ohgr;3-docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). DGLA may be utilized in the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), EPA, adrenic acid, &ohgr;
6
-docosapentaenoic acid or &ohgr;
3
-docosapentaenoic acid which may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.
本发明涉及参与多不饱和酸伸长的几种
基因(即 "伸长酶")的鉴定及其用途。其中至少有两个
基因也参与了单不饱和
脂肪酸的伸长。特别是,在将
γ-亚麻酸(G
LA)转化为二氢
γ-亚麻酸(DG
LA)以及将
AA 转化为肾上腺酸(
ADA)或将二十碳五烯酸(EPA)转化为&ohgr;3-二十碳五烯酸(DPA)的过程中,都会用到伸长酶。DG
LA 可用于生产多不饱和
脂肪酸,如
花生四烯酸 (
AA)、
二十二碳六烯酸 (
DHA)、EPA、肾上腺酸 (&ohgr;3-docosapentaenoic acid, DPA);
6
6-二十碳五烯酸或 &ohgr;
3
-可添加到药物组合物、营养组合物、动物饲料以及化妆品等其他产品中。