Method of producing polyunsaturated fatty acids, novel biosynthesis genes, and novel plant expression constructs

US7615679B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF Plant Science Company GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Jens Lerchl · Ladenburg, DE
• Andreas Renz · Schifferstadt, DE
• Ernst Heinz · Hamburg, DE
• Frederic Domergue · Hamburg, DE
• Ulrich Zähringer · Kellinghusen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 18, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 10, 2009
• Expiry date: Jan 13, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12P7/6472
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the production of unsaturated fatty acids with at least two double bonds. The invention further relates to the use of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 encoding a polypeptide having delta-5 desaturase activity in the method and for generating a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or microorganism with an increased content of fatty acids, oil or lipids with unsaturated long chain fatty acids, to their homologs or derivatives, and to gene constructs encompassing these genes. The invention also relates to the use of the nucleic acid sequences alone or in combination with further desaturases and/or elongase genes in the method and for generating transgenic organisms.