Fatty acid epoxygenase genes from plants and uses therefor in modifying fatty acid metabolism

An isolated nucleic acid encoding a plant fatty acid epoxygenase polypeptide comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

• (i) a sequence having at least about 65% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No:
• 1, SEQ ID NO:
• 3, SEQ ID NO:
• 5 and SEQ ID NO:
• 19 as determined using the default parameters of the Sequence and Analysis Software Package of the Computer Genetic Group (GCG) at the University of Wisconsin;
• (ii) a sequence encoding an amino acid sequence that is at least about 65% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No:
• 2, SEQ ID NO:
• 4, SEQ ID NO:
• 6 and SEQ ID NO:
• 20 as determined using the default parameters of the Sequence and Analysis Software Package of the GCG at the University of Wisconsin;
• and
• (iii) a sequence that is complementary to (i) or (ii).

An isolated nucleic acid from the plant Vernonia that encodes a fatty acid epoxygenase polypeptide wherein said nucleic acid comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

• (i) the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 19;
• (ii) a sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 20;
• and
• (iii) a sequence that is complementary to (i) or (ii).