Increase in nervonic acid content in transformed yeast and transgenic plants by introduction of a Lunaria annua L. 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) gene.

Nervonic acid is a Very Long-Chain Monounsaturated Fatty Acid (VLCMFA), 24:1 Delta15 (cis-tetracos-15-enoic acid) found in the seed oils of Lunaria annua, borage, hemp, Acer (Purpleblow maple) and Tropaeolum speciosum (Flame flower). However, of these, only the "money plant" (Lunaria annua L.) has been studied and grown sparingly for future development as a niche crop and the outlook has been disappointing.

Cloning and characterization of an acyl-CoA-dependent diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) gene from Tropaeolum majus, and a study of the functional motifs of the DGAT protein using site-directed mutagenesis to modify enzyme activity and oil content.

A full-length cDNA encoding a putative diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1, EC 2.3.1.

Cloning and functional characterization of the fatty acid elongase 1 (FAE1) gene from high erucic Crambe abyssinica cv. Prophet.

A genomic fatty acid elongation 1 (FAE1) clone was isolated from Crambe abyssinica. The genomic clone corresponds to a 1521-bp open reading frame, which encodes a protein of 507 amino acids. In yeast cells expression of CrFAE led to production of new very long chain monounsaturated fatty acids such as eicosenoic (20:1(delta11)) and erucic (22:1(delta13)) acids.

Increased levels of erucic acid in Brassica carinata by co-suppression and antisense repression of the endogenous FAD2 gene.

Erucic acid and its derivatives represent important industrial feedstock compounds, and there is an increasing demand for the production of high erucate oils in this regard. Our goal therefore, is to develop high erucic acid (HEA) Brassicaceae lines with increased proportions of erucic acid and very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). We proposed that oleate availability may be a rate-limiting factor in the biosynthesis of erucic acid.

Seed-specific heterologous expression of a nasturtium FAE gene in Arabidopsis results in a dramatic increase in the proportion of erucic acid.

The fatty acid elongase [often designated FAE or beta-(or 3-) ketoacyl-CoA synthase] is a condensing enzyme and is the first component of the elongation complex involved in synthesis of erucic acid (22:1) in seeds of garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). Using a degenerate primers approach, a cDNA of a putative embryo FAE was obtained showing high homology to known plant elongases. This cDNA contains a 1,512-bp open reading frame that encodes a protein of 504 amino acids.

Gaining insight into the role of serine 282 in B. napus FAE1 condensing enzyme.

To gain some insight whether there is an absolute requirement for the serine 282 to yield a functional fatty acid elongase 1 condensing enzyme we have introduced point mutations in the FAE1 coding sequence which led to the substitution of serine 282 with several aliphatic or aromatic amino acids. The mutated FAE1 polypeptides were expressed in yeast. Gas chromatography analyses of the fatty acid methyl esters from yeast lysates and fatty acid elongase activity assays demonstrated that there is not an absolute requirement for serine at position 282 to yield a functional FAE1 condensing enzyme.

Restoring enzyme activity in nonfunctional low erucic acid Brassica napus fatty acid elongase 1 by a single amino acid substitution.

Genomic fatty acid elongation 1 (FAE1) clones from high erucic acid (HEA) Brassica napus, Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea, and low erucic acid (LEA) B. napus cv. Westar, were amplified by PCR and expressed in yeast cells under the control of the strong galactose-inducible promoter.