Recombinant Rat Fatty acid desaturase 2 (Fads2)
Description
Definition and Biological Role
Recombinant Rat FADS2 is produced by inserting the rat Fads2 gene into bacterial expression systems (e.g., E. coli), enabling large-scale purification for experimental use . Key functions include:
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Δ6-Desaturase Activity: Introduces a double bond at the Δ6 position of fatty acid substrates, initiating PUFA synthesis .
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Membrane Integration: Operates as a multi-pass endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein, requiring cytochrome b5 domains for electron transfer during catalysis .
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Physiological Impact: PUFA products like arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) influence inflammation, fertility, and cancer progression .
Production and Purification
Recombinant Rat FADS2 is typically expressed in E. coli with affinity tags (e.g., His-tag) for purification . Key parameters include:
Research Applications
Recombinant Rat FADS2 is widely used to investigate:
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Lipid Metabolism: Elucidates PUFA biosynthesis pathways and their regulation in rodents .
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Disease Models: Studies link FADS2 dysregulation to cancer, infertility, and inflammatory disorders .
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Drug Development: Screens for inhibitors targeting PUFA-driven tumor progression .
Experimental Findings
Recent studies highlight its functional versatility:
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Knockout Effects: Fads2−/− mice exhibit infertility due to disrupted blood-testis barrier integrity and impaired spermatogenesis .
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Substrate Flexibility: Rat FADS2 demonstrates activity toward multiple substrates, including 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, and 16:0 .
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Thermostability: Retains activity at 4°C for one week post-reconstitution, making it suitable for extended assays .
Comparative Insights
Rat FADS2 shares 85% sequence homology with human FADS2 but lacks Δ5-desaturase activity present in human isoforms . Unlike marine fish FADS2, it does not exhibit Δ4-desaturase activity, limiting its role in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) synthesis .
Challenges and Future Directions
Product Specs
Note: While we will prioritize shipping the format currently in stock, we are happy to accommodate specific format requests. Please indicate your desired format in the order notes, and we will prepare the product accordingly.
Note: All proteins are shipped with standard blue ice packs. If you require dry ice shipping, please inform us in advance as additional fees may apply.
Generally, the shelf life of the liquid form is 6 months at -20°C/-80°C, while the lyophilized form has a shelf life of 12 months at -20°C/-80°C.
Target Background
- Our research demonstrated that both recombinant and native rat FADS2 were capable of Delta6-desaturating not only the cis9- but also the cis12- and cis15-18:1 isomers. PMID: 25701799
- Delta-6-desaturase connects polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism with phospholipid remodeling and disease progression in heart failure. PMID: 24284026
- Epigenetic regulation of Fads2 may contribute to both short- and long-term regulation of PUFA synthesis. PMID: 23107313
- Fluctuations in progesterone and oestradiol during pregnancy potentially enhance the synthesis of LC PUFA through increased FADS2 expression. PMID: 22495065
- Our findings indicate that an imbalance of maternal micronutrients elevates Delta5 desaturase activity while reducing mRNA levels, and conversely, decreases Delta6 desaturase activity without affecting mRNA levels compared to control. PMID: 22133376
- Our results show that delta-6 desaturase, along with elongase-6 expression, was upregulated in 3-month-old Zucker fatty rats compared to their lean littermates. PMID: 21172452
- The regulation of 6-desaturase expression exhibits differences in female versus male liver (but not cerebral cortex) during n-3 fatty acid repletion. PMID: 19157821
- Delta6-desaturase acts on 24-carbon fatty acids in very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. PMID: 11988075
- Rat Delta 6-desaturase, which acts on 18- and 24-carbon fatty acids of the n-6 and n-3 series, can also catalyze palmitic acid Delta 6 -desaturation. PMID: 12562851
- n-6 and n-3 PUFAs suppressed hepatic Fads2 expression by inhibiting the rate of Fads2 gene transcription. In contrast, consumption of the PPARalpha activator WY 14,643 significantly enhanced hepatic DeFads2 transcription by 500%. PMID: 12562861
- Testicular distribution of Delta5- and Delta6-desaturase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and 2 indicates that all four desaturases appear to be localized in Sertoli cells, with significantly lower expression in germ cells. PMID: 12606372
- Utilizing 6-month-old eSS rats that had already developed insulin resistance, we investigated the changes induced on delta9, delta6, and delta5 liver desaturases. PMID: 14577661
- We observed a significant increase in delta 6-desaturase activity, while gene expression showed a tendency to decrease. PMID: 15589689
