Identification of the delta-6 desaturase of human sebaceous glands: expression and enzyme activity.

Article Details

Citation

Ge L, Gordon JS, Hsuan C, Stenn K, Prouty SM

Identification of the delta-6 desaturase of human sebaceous glands: expression and enzyme activity.

J Invest Dermatol. 2003 May;120(5):707-14.

PubMed ID
12713571 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Delta-6 desaturase, also known as fatty acid desaturase-2 (FADS2), is a component of a lipid metabolic pathway that converts the essential fatty acids linoleate and alpha-linolenate into long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Isolation of Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 cDNA from human skin predicts an identical protein to that expressed in human brain and Southern analysis indicates a single locus, together suggestive of a single Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 gene. Within human skin, Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 mRNA and protein expression is restricted to differentiating sebocytes located in the suprabasal layers of the sebaceous gland. Enzymatic analysis using CHO cells overexpressing human Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 indicates catalysis of a "polyunsaturated fatty acid type" reaction, but also an unexpected "sebaceous-type" reaction, that of converting palmitate into the mono-unsaturated fatty acid sapienate, a 16-carbon fatty acid with a single cis double bond at the sixth carbon from the carboxyl end. Sapienate is the most abundant fatty acid in human sebum, and among hair-bearing animals is restricted to humans. This work identifies Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 as the major fatty acid desaturase in human sebaceous glands and suggests that the environment of the sebaceous gland permits catalysis of the sebaceous-type reaction and restricts catalysis of the polyunsaturated fatty acid type reaction.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
alpha-Linolenic acidFatty acid desaturase 2ProteinHumans
Yes
Ligand
Details
Polypeptides
NameUniProt ID
Fatty acid desaturase 2O95864Details