Modification of Brassica seed oil by antisense expression of a stearoly-acyl carrier protein desaturase gene

Molecular gene transfer techniques have been used to engineer the fatty acid composition of Brassica rapa and Brassica napus (canola) oil. Stearoyl-acyl carrier protein (stearoyl-ACP) desaturase (EC 1.14.99.6) catalyzes the first desaturation step in seed oil biosynthesis, converting stearoyl-ACP to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1992, Vol.89 (7), p.2624-2628
Main Authors: Knutzon, D.S, Thompson, G.A, Radke, S.E, Johnson, W.B, Knauf, V.C, Kridl, J.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biosynthesis
Brassica napus
Brassica rapa subsp. campestris
genbank/x60978
gene expression
genetic engineering
lipid metabolism
molecular genetics
rapeseed oil
saturated fatty acids
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Summary:Molecular gene transfer techniques have been used to engineer the fatty acid composition of Brassica rapa and Brassica napus (canola) oil. Stearoyl-acyl carrier protein (stearoyl-ACP) desaturase (EC 1.14.99.6) catalyzes the first desaturation step in seed oil biosynthesis, converting stearoyl-ACP to oleoyl-ACP. Seed-specific antisense gene constructs of B. rapa stearoyl-ACP desaturase were used to reduce the protein concentration and enzyme activity of stearoyl-ACP desaturase in developing rapeseed embryos during storage lipid biosynthesis. The resulting transgenic plants showed dramatically increased stearate levels in the seeds. A continuous distribution of stearate levels from 2% to 40% was observed in seeds of a transgenic B. napus plant, illustrating the potential to engineer specialized seed oil compositions.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490