Recombinant microbial cells that produce at least 28% eicosapentaenoic acid as dry cell weight

Abstract

Recombinant microbial cells are disclosed herein that produce an oil comprising at least 28 percent eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) measured as a weight percent of dry cell weight. These cells may comprise a polynucleotide sequence encoding an active acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) comprising at least one amino acid mutation in a membrane-bound O-acyltransferase motif. In addition, the cells may comprise a down-regulation of an endogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein, and/or one or more polynucleotides encoding phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT), delta-12 desaturase, a dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) synthase multizyme, delta-8 desaturase, malonyl-CoA synthetase (MCS), or acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT). Also disclosed are methods of using the recombinant microbial cells to produce oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.