@mastersthesis{10902/26009,
year = {2022},
month = {6},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10902/26009},
abstract = {ABSTRACT :
Dietary consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), especially 
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 ω-3), has been related to diverse human health benefits such 
as brain, immune and cardiovascular correct function. Currently, PUFAs main source are fish 
oils. However, unsustainability of fish wild catch due to steady growth of global population has 
forced to search for alternatives. 
The heterotrophic microalgae-like protist Schizochytrium sp. can accumulate high amounts of 
DHA compared to other DHA main producers like marine bacteria. Thus, it has become an ideal 
microorganism for ω-3 production due to its DHA content and easy cultivation. Still, current state 
of Schizochytrium sp. DHA viability to completely out-market fish oil is still unclear owing to its 
high costs compared to the latter. In order to overcome this limitation, metabolic engineering for 
enhancing DHA production in Schizochytrium sp. is being assessed. Nevertheless, absence of 
structural information of its PUFA synthase enzymatic system limits the understanding of this 
cumbersome process. 
This master’s thesis work has focused on trying to obtain an improved comprehension of the 
protein structure of pfa genes forming the Schizochytrium sp. PUFA synthase. To achieve this
ambitious goal different cloning, purification and crystallization strategies have been devised. The
in silico structural analysis of the proteins conforming the PUFA megasynthase complex has 
shown the existence of two separate ER PUFA synthase domains non-present in other DHA 
producers. A model for this ER duplication is proposed in this work.},
title = {Structural Biology of PUFA  synthesis in  Schizochytrium sp.},
author = {San Miguel Escudero, Sergio},
}