Mansilla María Cecilia, Banchio Claudia E, de Mendoza Diego
Departamento de Microbiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
Subcell Biochem. 2008;49:71-99. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-8831-5_3.
Microorganisms, plants and animals regulate the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) during changing environmental conditions as well as in response to nutrients. Unsaturation of fatty acid chains has important structural roles in cell membranes: a proper ratio of saturated to UFAs contributes to membrane fluidity. Alterations in this ratio have been implicated in various disease states including cardiovascular diseases, immune disorders, cancer and obesity. They are also the major components of triglycerides and intermediates in the synthesis of biologically active molecules such as eicosanoids, which mediates fever, inflammation and neurotransmission. UFAs homeostasis in many organisms is achieved by feedback regulation of fatty acid desaturases gene transcription. Here, we review recently discovered components and mechanisms of the regulatory machinery governing the transcription of fatty acid desaturases in bacteria, yeast and animals.
微生物、植物和动物在环境条件变化以及对营养物质作出反应时，会调节不饱和脂肪酸（UFA）的合成。脂肪酸链的不饱和化在细胞膜中具有重要的结构作用：饱和脂肪酸与不饱和脂肪酸的适当比例有助于维持膜的流动性。这种比例的改变与包括心血管疾病、免疫紊乱、癌症和肥胖症在内的各种疾病状态有关。它们也是甘油三酯的主要成分以及生物活性分子（如介导发热、炎症和神经传递的类花生酸）合成过程中的中间体。许多生物体中的不饱和脂肪酸稳态是通过脂肪酸去饱和酶基因转录的反馈调节来实现的。在此，我们综述了最近发现的细菌、酵母和动物中脂肪酸去饱和酶转录调控机制的组成部分和机制。
