In-silico characterization of [DELTA]4 and [DELTA]5 desaturases in Symbiodinium microadriaticum and Perkinsus marinus, symbiont and parasitic organisms' similarities

• Published in: Marine biology 2024-01, Vol.171 (1)
• Main Authors: Vera-Villalobos, Hernan, Miranda-Peña, Yashira, Fuentes-Santander, Francisco, Mata, María Teresa, Riquelme, Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Computational biology; Dinoflagellates; Fatty acid desaturases; Genetic aspects; Identification and classification
• ISSN: 0025-3162
• DOI: 10.1007/s00227-023-04357-3

Dinoflagellates are protists of high ecological interest due to their ability to produce compounds with biotechnological utility, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids. Two dinoflagellates, Symbiodinium microadriaticum and Perkinsus marinus, play radically different ecological roles. While S. microadriaticum contributes to coral survival by providing nutrients, P. marinus has become a pathogen in oyster culture, causing economic losses. Despite the differences in their ecological role, the mechanism associated which these two organisms have been linked to the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Desaturase enzymes play a crucial role in the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids through the addition of double bonds, especially the [DELTA]4 and [DELTA]5 desaturase enzymes, which are important to producing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). However, despite their great potential and ecological importance, cellular mechanisms of polyunsaturated fatty acids synthesis and their associated enzymes have not been sufficiently studied in dinoflagellates. This limits efforts to optimizing the production of these metabolites. In this study, an in-silico analysis of [DELTA]4 and [DELTA]5 desaturase sequences from S. microadriaticum and P. marinus was carried out. Bioinformatic characterization showed that genes are related to a membrane-bound proteins with at least 3 transmembrane domains. In addition, three histidine boxes were detected in each enzyme, which are essential for their role as desaturases. In addition, despite distance between protozoan clade and their diverse biological role that S. microadriaticum and P. marinus are involved in, [DELTA]4 and [DELTA]5 desaturases retain high identity domains, even with species from other kingdom such as Plantae and Animalia.