US 2008/0076166 A1 · Method For Producing Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Transgenic Organisms

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids which encode polypeptides with Δ5-elongase, Δ6-desaturase, Δ5-desaturase, Δ4-desaturase, Δ12-desaturase and/or Δ6-elongase activity. These desaturases and elongases are advantageously derived from Ostreococcus. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention, to vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs and to transgenic organisms comprising the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors. A further part of the invention relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced by the process according to the invention and to their use. Moreover, the invention relates to unsaturated fatty acids and to triglycerides with an elevated content of unsaturated fatty acids and to their use.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A process for the production of compounds of the formula I

in a transgenic organism with a content of at least 1% by weight of the compounds based on the total lipid content of the transgenic organism, wherein the process comprises the following process steps:
a) introducing, into the organism, at least one nucleic acid sequence which encodes a polypeptide having Δ6-desaturase activity,
b) introducing, into the organism, at least one nucleic acid sequence which encodes a polypeptide having Δ6-elongase activity,
c) introducing, into the organism, at least one nucleic acid sequence which encodes a polypeptide having Δ5-desaturase activity,
d) introducing, into the organism, at least one nucleic acid sequence which encodes a polypeptide having Δ5-elongase activity, and
e) introducing, into the organism, at least one nucleic acid sequence which encodes a polypeptide having Δ4-desaturase activity,
wherein the variables and substituents in formula I have the following meanings:
R1=hydroxyl, coenzyme A (thioester), lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylglycerol, lysodiphosphatidylglycerol, lysophosphatidylserine, lysophosphatidylinositol, sphingo base or a radical of the formula II
R2=hydrogen, lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylglycerol, lysodiphosphatidylglycerol, lysophosphatidylserine, lysophosphatidylinositol or saturated or unsaturated C2-C24-alkylcarbonyl,
R3=hydrogen, saturated or unsaturated C2-C24-alkylcarbonyl, or R2 and R3 independently of one another are a radical of the formula Ia:
n=2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9, m=2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and p=0 or 3.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method For Producing Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Transgenic Organisms

Life of this patent

Method For Producing Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Transgenic Organisms

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28