Journal
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume 100, Issue 11, Pages 6358-6363Publisher
NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0931394100
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- NIGMS NIH HHS [GM-63115, R01 GM063115] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
in animals, including humans, the source of long-chain saturated fatty acids is de novo synthesis, which is mediated by fatty acid synthase (FAS), ingested food, or both. To understand the importance of de novo fatty acid synthesis, we generated FAS knockout mice. The heterozygous FAS mutants (Fasn(+/-)) are ostensibly normal. In Fasn(+/-) mice the levels of FAS mRNA and the FAS activity are approximate to50% and 35% lower, respectively, than those of WT mice; hence, FAS levels are affected by gene dosage. When the Fasn(+/-) mutant mice were interbred, Fasn(-/-) mice were not produced; thus, FAS is essential during embryonic development, Furthermore, the number of Fasn(+/-) progeny obtained was 70% less than predicted by Mendelian inheritance, indicating partial haploid insufficiency. Even when one of the parents was WT, the estimated loss of heterozygous progeny was 60%. This loss of Fasn(+/-) pups appeared to be strain-specific and became more pronounced as the heterozygous females produced more litters. Most of the Fasn(-/-) mutant embryos died before implantation and the Fasn(+/-) embryos died at various stages of their development. Feeding the breeders a diet rich in saturated fatty acids did not prevent the loss of homo- or heterozygotes. These observations are very important in considering teratogenic consequences of drugs aimed at inhibiting FAS activity, to reduce either obesity or the growth of cancerous tissues.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available