Activity and mRNA abundance of Delta-5 and Delta-6 fatty acid desaturases in two human cell lines

We analyzed fatty acid biosynthesis in Chang and ZR-75-1 cells, Both cell l ines could desaturate and further elongate substrates for Delta -5 desatura se. ZR-75-1 but not Chang cells showed Delta -6 desaturation of 18:2n-6, 18 :3n-3, 24:4n-6 and 24:5n-3, In both cell lines, the mRNA abundance can be r elated to Delta -5 or Delta -6 fatty acid desaturase activities, These resu lts suggest that desaturase genes could have, at least in part, independent control mechanisms and that Delta -6 desaturase impairment is not specific to any particular step of the fatty acid metabolic pathways, which may dim inish the rationale for the existence of at least two distinct enzymes, (C) 2001 Federation of European Biochemical Societies, Published by Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.