DNA transforming into fish, symbolizing omega-3 production enhancement.

Omega-3 Boost: How Removing a Gene Can Supercharge Fatty Acid Production

Author's portrait.
Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 5 min read.

"Scientists discover a surprising method to enhance omega-3 fatty acid production in cells by deleting the PGK-neo resistance gene, paving the way for healthier transgenic animals."


Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients known for their health benefits, but our bodies can't produce them efficiently. This is why researchers are constantly exploring ways to enhance omega-3 production in animals, aiming to improve the nutritional value of our food sources.

One approach involves creating transgenic animals – animals whose genetic makeup has been altered to produce more of these beneficial fats. A common technique in genetic engineering utilizes selection markers, like the neomycin-resistance (neo) gene, to identify cells that have successfully incorporated the desired genetic changes. However, these markers can sometimes interfere with the expression of the very genes scientists are trying to enhance.

Now, a new study has uncovered a surprising way to boost omega-3 fatty acid production. By deleting the PGK-neo resistance gene after it has served its purpose, researchers found they could further enhance the expression of the Fat-1 gene, responsible for converting omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. This article dives into this fascinating research and explores its implications for creating healthier, omega-3-rich food sources.

The Curious Case of PGK-neo: How Deletion Unlocks Omega-3 Potential

DNA transforming into fish, symbolizing omega-3 production enhancement.

The study, detailed in Genetics and Molecular Research, focused on porcine (pig) fetal fibroblasts. Researchers introduced a humanized version of the Fat-1 gene (hFat-1), along with the PGK-neo resistance gene, into these cells. The PGK-neo gene helped them identify the cells that had successfully taken up the hFat-1 gene.

Here's where it gets interesting. The researchers then used a technique called Cre recombination to remove the PGK-neo gene from some of the cells. What they found was unexpected: cells without the PGK-neo gene actually showed decreased hFat-1 expression compared to cells where the resistance gene was still present! High-performance gas chromatography also revealed that the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids was also increased with deletion of the PGK-neo.

  • The neo gene's role: It serves as a marker in eukaryotic expression vectors.
  • Expression interference: The neo gene expression often impacts the expression of target genes.
  • Cre recombinase precision: Cre recombinase recognizes LoxP sites, enabling precise DNA and RNA deletion.
This suggests that while the PGK-neo gene helps in the initial selection process, its presence might negatively affect the long-term expression of the hFat-1 gene, consequently reducing omega-3 production. Removing it, however, requires careful consideration to avoid inadvertently lowering the very gene it was intended to support. Although hFat-1 expression decreased, the Cre-recombinase-treated cell lines still exhibited significantly increased n-3 content.

The Future of Omega-3s: Transgenic Innovation for Better Nutrition

These findings have significant implications for the future of transgenic animal development. By understanding the complex interplay between selection markers like PGK-neo and target gene expression, scientists can refine their techniques to create animals with optimized nutritional profiles. This could lead to pork, beef, or even dairy products with significantly higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

While mammals cannot efficiently produce omega-3s, this study reveals that deletion of PGK-neo resulted in decreased expression of hFat-1 transcript and a decrease in the n-6/n-3 ratio, suggests that this cassette might enhance the expression of adjacent genes. Further optimization of gene insertion and selection marker removal strategies will be crucial to maximizing omega-3 production in transgenic animals.

Ultimately, this research paves the way for a more sustainable and accessible source of omega-3 fatty acids, potentially improving human health and reducing our reliance on less sustainable sources like fish oil. As transgenic technologies continue to advance, we can expect even more innovative solutions to address nutritional deficiencies and promote overall well-being.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4238/2015.september.28.11, Alternate LINK

Title: Decreased Expression Of Humanized Fat-1 In Porcine Fetal Fibroblasts Following Deletion Of Pgk-Neomycin Resistance

Subject: Genetics

Journal: Genetics and Molecular Research

Publisher: Genetics and Molecular Research

Authors: X.J. Han, H. Liang, T. Yun, Y.H. Zhao, M.L. Zhang, L.H. Zhao, R.F. Li, X.L. Li

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

What role does the PGK-neo resistance gene play in creating transgenic animals with enhanced omega-3 fatty acid production?

The PGK-neo resistance gene is used as a selection marker during genetic engineering. It helps researchers identify cells that have successfully incorporated the desired gene, such as the hFat-1 gene, into their genetic material. The PGK-neo allows for selection of successfully modified cells.

2

What happened when the PGK-neo resistance gene was deleted from the cells, and what was unexpected about the findings?

The deletion of the PGK-neo resistance gene surprisingly decreased hFat-1 expression in porcine fetal fibroblasts in the short term, which was not the initial hypothesis. However, even with the decrease in hFat-Fat-1 expression, the n-3 content was significantly increased.

3

Can you explain how Cre recombination is used to remove the PGK-neo gene, and why is this removal so precise?

Cre recombination is a technique used to precisely remove the PGK-neo gene from cells after it has served its purpose in identifying cells with the hFat-1 gene. Cre recombinase recognizes specific DNA sequences called LoxP sites, which flank the PGK-neo gene, and excises the DNA between these sites. This allows scientists to remove the resistance gene without disrupting the rest of the genome, even though there was a short term impact on the expression of the target gene.

4

In what type of cells was the study conducted, and what genes were introduced and manipulated during the experiment?

The study focused on porcine fetal fibroblasts, where researchers introduced the hFat-1 gene (a humanized version of the Fat-1 gene) along with the PGK-neo resistance gene. After confirming successful gene insertion with the PGK-neo marker, they used Cre recombination to remove it and then surprisingly measured hFat-1 expression and omega-3 fatty acid production by high-performance gas chromatography.

5

What are the potential implications of enhancing omega-3 fatty acid production in animals through genetic manipulation, and how might it benefit human health?

Enhancing omega-3 fatty acid production can improve the nutritional profile of animals, such as pigs, potentially leading to healthier meat products. By optimizing techniques like PGK-neo deletion and Cre recombination, scientists can create transgenic animals that produce higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. This could have positive implications for human health by providing food sources rich in these essential nutrients, although this study showed a temporary dip in hFat-1 expression, which must be considered.

Newsletter Subscribe

Subscribe to get the latest articles and insights directly in your inbox.