title: Towards the production of high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid in transgenic plants: the effects of different host species, genes and promoters.
abstract: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) plays an important role in many aspects of human health. In our efforts towards producing high levels of EPA in plants, we investigated the effects of different host species, genes and promoters on EPA biosynthesis. Zero-erucic acid Brassica carinata appeared to be an outstanding host species for EPA production, with EPA levels in transgenic seed of this line reaching up to 25%. Two novel genes, an 18-carbon omega3 desaturase (CpDesX) from Claviceps purpurea and a 20-carbon omega3 desaturase (Pir-omega3) from Pythium irregulare, proved to be very effective in increasing EPA levels in high-erucic acid B. carinata. The conlinin1 promoter from flax functioned reasonably well in B. carinata, and can serve as an alternative to the napin promoter from B. napus. In summary, the judicious selection of host species and promoters, together with the inclusion of genes that enhance the basic very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, can greatly influence the production of EPA in plants.
authors: Bioriginal Food and Science Corporation, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W9, Canada.
authors: Bifang
authors: B
authors: Cheng
authors: Guohai
authors: G
authors: Wu
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Vrinten
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Falk
authors: Joerg
authors: J
authors: Bauer
authors: Xiao
authors: X
authors: Qiu
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D001937:Brassica / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002967:Claviceps / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004883:Erucic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D006801:Humans; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011775:Pythium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D004883:Erucic Acids; C049811:erucic acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases