Identification of a Sterol Δ7 Reductase Gene Involved in Desmosterol Biosynthesis in Mortierella alpina 1S-4

Molecular cloning of the gene encoding sterol Delta7 reductase from the filamentous fungus Mortierella alpina 1S-4, which accumulates cholesta-5,24-dienol (desmosterol) as the main sterol, revealed that the open reading frame of this gene, designated MoDelta7SR, consists of 1,404 bp and codes for 468 amino acids with a molecular weight of 53,965. The predicted amino acid sequence of MoDelta7SR showed highest homology of 51% with that of sterol Delta7 reductase (EC 1.3.1.21) from Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog). Heterologous expression of the MoDelta7SR gene in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed that MoDelta7SR converts ergosta-5,7-dienol to ergosta-5-enol (campesterol) by the activity of Delta7 reductase. In addition, with gene silencing of MoDelta7SR gene by RNA interference, the transformant accumulated cholesta-5,7,24-trienol up to 10% of the total sterols with a decrease in desmosterol. Cholesta-5,7,24-trienol is not detected in the control strain. This indicates that MoDelta7SR is involved in desmosterol biosynthesis in M. alpina 1S-4. This study is the first report on characterization of sterol Delta7 reductase from a microorganism.