Production of very long chain polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in plants

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Qi, B., Fraser, T., Mugford, S., Dobson, G., Sayanova, O. V., Butler, J., Napier, J. A., Stobart, A. K. and Lazarus, C. M. 2004. Production of very long chain polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in plants. Nature Biotechnology. 22 (6), pp. 739-745. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt972

AuthorsQi, B., Fraser, T., Mugford, S., Dobson, G., Sayanova, O. V., Butler, J., Napier, J. A., Stobart, A. K. and Lazarus, C. M.
Abstract

We report the production of two very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in substantial quantities in a higher plant. This was achieved using genes encoding enzymes participating in the ω3/6 Δ8-desaturation biosynthetic pathways for the formation of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Arabidopsis thaliana was transformed sequentially with genes encoding a Δ9-specific elongating activity from Isochrysis galbana, a Δ8-desaturase from Euglena gracilis and a Δ5-desaturase from Mortierella alpina. Instrumental in the successful reconstitution of these C20 polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthetic pathways was the I. galbana C18-Δ9-elongating activity, which may bypass rate-limiting steps present in the conventional Δ6-desaturase/elongase pathways. The accumulation of EPA and AA in transgenic plants is a breakthrough in the search for alternative sustainable sources of fish oils. 

KeywordsRRES175; 175_Plant sciences; 175_Genetics; 175_Nutrition
Year of Publication2004
JournalNature Biotechnology
Journal citation22 (6), pp. 739-745
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt972
Open accessPublished as green open access
Funder project or code503
Project: 4546
Publisher's version
Publication dates
Online16 May 2004
Publication process dates
Accepted19 Feb 2004
ISSN15461696
PublisherSpringer Nature
Copyright licensePublisher copyright

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