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Identification of the Δ-6 Desaturase of Human Sebaceous Glands: Expression and Enzyme Activity
Open accessAbstract
Delta-6 desaturase, also known as fatty acid desaturase-2 (FADS2), is a component of a lipid metabolic pathway that converts the essential fatty acids linoleate and alpha-linolenate into long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Isolation of Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 cDNA from human skin predicts an identical protein to that expressed in human brain and Southern analysis indicates a single locus, together suggestive of a single Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 gene. Within human skin, Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 mRNA and protein expression is restricted to differentiating sebocytes located in the suprabasal layers of the sebaceous gland. Enzymatic analysis using CHO cells overexpressing human Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 indicates catalysis of a "polyunsaturated fatty acid type" reaction, but also an unexpected "sebaceous-type" reaction, that of converting palmitate into the mono-unsaturated fatty acid sapienate, a 16-carbon fatty acid with a single cis double bond at the sixth carbon from the carboxyl end. Sapienate is the most abundant fatty acid in human sebum, and among hair-bearing animals is restricted to humans. This work identifies Delta-6 desaturase/FADS2 as the major fatty acid desaturase in human sebaceous glands and suggests that the environment of the sebaceous gland permits catalysis of the sebaceous-type reaction and restricts catalysis of the polyunsaturated fatty acid type reaction.
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“Ge et al. identified stearoyl-CoA Δ-6 desaturase as the major fatty acid desaturase in human sebaceous glands, which induces rapid oxidation and degradation of linoleic acid and its derivatives in sebaceous gland cells.11”
From Sebaceous-immunobiology is orchestrated by sebum lipids (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
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“Ge et al. identified stearoyl-CoA Δ-6 desaturase as the major fatty acid desaturase in human sebaceous glands, which induces rapid oxidation and degradation of linoleic acid and its derivatives in sebaceous gland cells.11”
From Sebaceous-immunobiology is orchestrated by sebum lipids (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Ge, L., Gordon, J. S., Hsuan, C., Stenn, K., & Prouty, S. M.
- Affiliations
- Johnson & Johnson (United States) (US)
- Corresponding author
- Prouty, Stephen M.
- Venue
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-05
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 707-714
- ISSN
- 0022-202X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2007749525
- Cited by
- 156
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
- Keywords
- delta-6 desaturase, FADS2, sebaceous glands, sebocytes, fatty acid desaturase, polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleate, alpha-linolenic acid, enzyme activity, gene expression, human skin
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Cloning, Molecular, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Genetic Vectors, Cricetinae, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Models, Chemical, RNA, Messenger, Sebaceous Glands, Sebum, Skin, Tissue Distribution, Blotting, Southern, Blotting, Northern, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Open Reading Frames, CHO Cells, In Situ Hybridization, Sequence Analysis, DNA, DNA, Complementary, Fatty Acid Desaturases, Lipid Metabolism, Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase
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