Molecular cloning, tissue expression and regulation of nutrition and temperature on Δ6 fatty acyl desaturase-like gene in the red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)

Desaturase enzymes play an important role in the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. In this study, a complete cDNA sequence of a Δ6 desaturase-like gene was cloned from the hepatopancreas of the red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. The full-length 1885 bp sequence comprises a 5' UTR of 254 bp, 3' UTR of 234 bp, and an open reading frame (ORF) of 1377 bp encoding a 458 amino acid polypeptide (GenBank accession no. MF497442). Bioinformatics analysis revealed three conserved histidine-rich regions, a cytochrome b5 domain at the N-terminus, and a haem binding site (HPGG) in the cytochrome b5 domain, all of which are typical of Δ6 desaturases. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated significantly higher expression in the hepatopancreas than other tissues. After feeding crayfish four formulated diets in which fish oil was replaced by 0, 33, 67, or 100% highly unsaturated soybean oil for 8 weeks, Δ6 desaturase-like mRNA expression and enzyme activity were higher than in the fish oil only group. Additionally, a 4-week low temperature treatment at 25, 20, 15, or 9 °C increased Δ6 desaturase mRNA expression and enzyme activity with decreasing water temperature. These results may help us better understand the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in C. quadricarinatus.