Generation of cloned transgenic pigs rich in omega-3 fatty acids

Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Apr;24(4):435-6. doi: 10.1038/nbt1198. Epub 2006 Mar 26.

Abstract

Meat products are generally low in omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids, which are beneficial to human health. We describe the generation of cloned pigs that express a humanized Caenorhabditis elegans gene, fat-1, encoding an n-3 fatty acid desaturase. The hfat-1 transgenic pigs produce high levels of n-3 fatty acids from n-6 analogs, and their tissues have a significantly reduced ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acids (P < 0.001).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Cloning, Organism / methods*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / genetics*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Meat / analysis
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Protein Engineering / methods*
  • Swine / physiology*
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3