Fatty acid elongases

US6307128A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Miami University · US
• The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jan Jaworski · Oxford, US
• Martha Post-Beittenmiller · Manchester, US
• James Todd · Walla Walla, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 3, 1997
• Grant date: Oct 23, 2001
• Expiry date: Jun 3, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N9/1029
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Nucleic acids are disclosed that encode fatty acid .beta.-keto acyl synthases from plants. Such synthases are effective for producing very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), e.g., C22 to C26, preferentially saturated but also monounsaturated. Also disclosed are polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acids. Transgenic plants expressing these polypeptides exhibit altered levels of VLCFA in one or more tissues, such as seeds or leaves.