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Regulation of the Docosapentaenoic Acid/Docosahexaenoic Acid Ratio (DPA/DHA Ratio) in Schizochytrium limacinum B4D1

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Abstract

Docosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid ratio (DPA/DHA ratio) in Schizochytrium was relatively stable. But ideally the ratio of DPA/DHA will vary according to the desired end use. This study reports several ways of modulating the DPA/DHA ratio. Incubation times changed the DPA/DHA ratio, and changes in this ratio were associated with the variations in the saturated fatty acid (SFAs) content. Propionic acid sharply increased the SFAs content in lipids, dramatically decreased the even-chain SFAs content, and reduced the DPA/DHA ratio. Pentanoic acid (C5:0) and heptanoic acid (C7:0) had similar effects as propionic acid, whereas butyric acid (C4:0), hexanoic acid (C6:0), and octanoic acid (C8:0) did not change the fatty acid profile and the DPA/DHA ratio. Transcription analyses show that β-oxidation might be responsible for this phenomenon. Iodoacetamide upregulated polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthase genes, reduced the DHA content, and improved the DPA content, causing the DPA/DHA ratio to increase. These results present new insights into the regulation of the DPA/DHA ratio.

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Abbreviations

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

DPA:

Docosapentaenoic acid

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

even-SFA:

Even-carbon saturated fatty acid

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl ester

FAS:

Fatty acid synthase

KS:

3-Ketoacyl synthase

MCAD:

Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase

odd-SFA:

Odd-carbon saturated fatty acid

PKS:

Polyketide synthase

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

SCAD:

Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase

SFA:

Saturated fatty acid

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Acknowledgements

Financial support was provided by the Key Program for International S&T Cooperation Projects of China (2014DFA61040), the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program (863) of China (2014AA021701), the Science and Technology Support Key Project of Tianjin (11ZCZDSY08900), and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial BioSystems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China

    Ke Zhang, Wuxi Chen, Minli Zhao, Haiyang Cui, Qingsong Min, Haijun Wang, Shulin Chen & Demao Li

  2. Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin, 300100, China

    Huidong Li

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  1. Ke Zhang
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  2. Huidong Li
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  3. Wuxi Chen
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  4. Minli Zhao
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  5. Haiyang Cui
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  6. Qingsong Min
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  7. Haijun Wang
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  8. Shulin Chen
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  9. Demao Li
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Correspondence to Demao Li.

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Ke Zhang and Huidong Li contributed equally to this work.

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Zhang, K., Li, H., Chen, W. et al. Regulation of the Docosapentaenoic Acid/Docosahexaenoic Acid Ratio (DPA/DHA Ratio) in Schizochytrium limacinum B4D1. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 182, 67–81 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-016-2311-5

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