HUMAN DESATURASE GENE AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The subject invention relates to the identification of a gene involved in th e desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids at carbon 5 (i.e., "human .DELTA .5- desaturase") and to uses thereof. In particular, human .DELTA.5-desaturase m ay be utilized, for example, in the conversion of dihomo-.gamma. - linolenic ac id (DGLA) to arachidonic acid (AA) and in the conversion of 20:4n-3 to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). AA or polyunsaturated fatty acids produced therefrom may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.