AI Article Synopsis
- Fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes are crucial for producing omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, especially for those with low LCPUFA diets, like plant-based eaters.
- Positive selection on different FADS gene variants occurred both before and after the introduction of farming in Europe, but it favored alternative alleles in each era.
- Recent findings show geographic variations in the selection patterns, with southern Europe showing the strongest signals, linking dietary habits to increased FADS gene expression and potential health benefits related to lipid levels and inflammation.
Article Abstract
Fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes encode rate-limiting enzymes for the biosynthesis of omega-6 and omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs). This biosynthesis is essential for individuals subsisting on LCPUFA-poor diets (for example, plant-based). Positive selection on FADS genes has been reported in multiple populations, but its cause and pattern in Europeans remain unknown. Here we demonstrate, using ancient and modern DNA, that positive selection acted on the same FADS variants both before and after the advent of farming in Europe, but on opposite (that is, alternative) alleles. Recent selection in farmers also varied geographically, with the strongest signal in southern Europe. These varying selection patterns concur with anthropological evidence of varying diets, and with the association of farming-adaptive alleles with higher FADS1 expression and thus enhanced LCPUFA biosynthesis. Genome-wide association studies reveal that farming-adaptive alleles not only increase LCPUFAs, but also affect other lipid levels and protect against several inflammatory diseases.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5672832 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0167 | DOI Listing |
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