METHOD FOR PRODUCING C18, C20 AND C22 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN TRANSGENIC PLANTS

摘要

The invention relates to a method for producing polyunsaturated fatty acids inseeds of transgenic plants. According to said method, nucleic acids, codingfor polypeptides with a .omega.-3-desaturase, .DELTA.-12-desaturase, .DELTA.-6-desaturase, .DELTA.-6-elongase, .DELTA.-5-desaturase, .DELTA.-5-elongaseand/or .DELTA.-4-desaturase activity, preferably for polypeptides with a.DELTA.-6-desaturase, .DELTA.-6-elongase and .DELTA.-5-desaturase activity,are introduced into the organism. The nucleic acid sequences are representedby SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 193, SEQ ID NO: 197, SEQ ID NO:199 and SEQ ID NO: 201. Advantageously, said nucleic acid sequences can beexpressed in the organism optionally together with other nucleic acidsequences that code for polypeptides of the biosynthesis of the fatty acid orlipid metabolism. Nucleic acid sequences coding for a .DELTA.-6-desaturase,.DELTA.-5-desaturase, .DELTA.-4-desaturase, .DELTA.-1 2-desaturase and/or.DELTA.-6-elongase activity are especially advantageous. Advantageously, saiddesaturases and elongases originate from thalassiosira, euglena orostreococcus. The invention also relates to a method for producing oils and/ortriacylglycerides with an increased content of long-chain polyunsaturatedfatty acids. In a preferred embodiment, the invention also relates to a methodfor producing arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenic acid or docosahexaenic acid,and to a method for producing triglycerides with an increased content ofunsaturated fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acidand/or docosahexaenoic acid, in transgenic plants, preferably in seeds of thetransgenic plants. The invention further relates to the production of atransgenic plant with an increased content of polyunsaturated fatty acids,especially arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and/or docosahexaenoicacid, based on the expression of the elongases and desaturases used in theinventive method. The invention also relates to recombinant nucleic acidsmolecules containing, together or individually, nucleic acid sequences codingfor the polypeptides with a .DELTA.-6-desaturase, .DELTA.-6-elongase, .DELTA.-5-desaturase and .DELTA.-5-elongase activity, and transgenic plants containingsaid recombinant nucleic acid molecules. Another part of the invention relatesto oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced according to the inventive method,and to the use thereof. Furthermore, the invention relates to unsaturatedfatty acids and triglycerides with an increased content of unsaturated fattyacids, and to the use of the same.