Atypical biosynthetic properties of a [[Delta].sup.12]/[nu]+3 desaturase from the model basidiomycete phanerochaete chrysosporium

The cloning and characterization of the oleate desaturase from basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium which contains a single integral membrane [[Delta].sup.12]-desaturase FAD2 related to the endoplasmic reticular plant FAD2 enzymes is reported. The results provide insight into the activity of the fatty acyl [[Delta].sup.12]-desaturase family and the evolution of basidiomycete fad2 genes from an ancestral desaturase.