Cloning and Bioinformatic Analysis of Stearoyl-Acyl-Carrier Protein Desaturase Gene in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Stearoyl-acyl-carrier protein desaturase is one of the key enzymes that irreversibly catalyze the biosynthesis of fatty acids, and has an influence on the proportion of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. In this research, MeSACPD has been cloned from cassava, with 1197 nucleotides and 398 amino acids, respectively. It has high homologous with the stearoyl-acyl-carrier protein desaturase in Ricinus communis. The 3D structure of MeSACPD show a conserve motif related to Fe ion binding. We suppose the motif may be the active center and the substrate binding site area of stearoyl-acyl-carrier protein desaturase.