The desA gene of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 is the structural gene for Δ12 desaturase

Abstract

The desA gene of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 was expressed in Escherichia coli, which does not contain any fatty acid desaturase. The product of the desA gene catalyzed the desaturation of fatty acids at the Δ12 position. This result demonstrates that desA is the structural gene for a Δ12 desaturase.