72 results about "Elongase" patented technology

The present invention relates to fatty acid desaturases and elongases able to catalyze the conversion of linoleic acid (LA) to γ-linolenic acid (GLA); α-linoleic acid (ALA) to stearidonic acid (STA); GLA to dihomo-γ-linoleic acid (DGLA); STA to eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA); DGLA to ETA; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to docosapentaenoic acid (DPA); and arachidonic acid (ARA) to EPA. Nucleic acid sequences encoding codon-optimized desaturases and elongases, nucleic acid sequences which hybridize thereto, DNA constructs comprising the codon-optimized desaturase or elongases, and recombinant host microorganisms expressing increased levels of desaturase or elongase are described.

Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 10% arachidonic acid (ARA, an ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid) in the total oil fraction are described. These strains comprise various chimeric genes expressing heterologous desaturases, elongases and acyltransferases, and optionally comprise various native desaturase and acyltransferase knockouts to enable synthesis and high accumulation of ARA. Production host cells are claimed, as are methods for producing ARA within said host cells.

Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 50 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid [“EPA”], an ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, in the total oil fraction are described. These strains over-express heterologous Δ9 elongases, Δ8 desaturases, Δ5 desaturases, Δ17 desaturases, Δ12 desaturases and C_16/18 elongases, and optionally over-express diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferases. Preferred gene knockouts are also described. Production host cells, methods for producing EPA within said host cells, and products comprising EPA from the optimized Yarrowia lipolytica strains are claimed.

Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-9 elongases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these delta-9 elongases in plants.

The subject invention relates to the identification of several genes involved in the elongation of polyunsaturated acids (i.e., "elongases") and to uses thereof. At least two of these genes are also involved in the elongation of monounsaturated fatty acids. In particular, elongase is utilized in the conversion of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) to dihomogamma linolenic acid (DGLA) and in the conversion of AA to adrenic acid (ADA), or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to omega3-docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). DGLA may be utilized in the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), EPA, adrenic acid, omega6-docosapentaenoic acid or omega3-docosapentaenoic acid which may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.

This invention relates to a new elongase gene having the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or its derivatives, to a gene construct comprising this sequence or its derivatives and to its use. The inventive nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide which elongates α-linolenic acid (C_{18:3 d9, 12, 15}) by at least two carbon atoms whereas γ-linolenic acid (C_{18:3 d6, 9, 12}) is not elongated. The invention additionally relates to vectors or organisms comprising an elongase gene having the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or its derivatives.

The invention further relates to a process for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (=PUFAs) with an organism which comprises the elongase gene and which organism produces high amounts of oils and especially oils with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Additionally the invention relates to an oil and/or fatty acid composition with a higher content of polyunsaturated C₂₀ or C₂₂ fatty acids with at least two double bonds and/or to a triacylglycerol composition with a higher content of said polyunsaturated fatty acids.

A Δ5 fatty acid desaturase gene, a Δ6 fatty acid desaturase gene, and a Δ6 fatty-acid-chain elongase gene are isolated from a single species of Marchantiales. By introducing these genes into higher plants, transformed plants which can produce arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are obtained.

The invention relates to a novel elongase gene with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or its homologs, derivatives or analogs, to a gene construct comprising this gene or its homologs, derivatives and analogs, and to its use. The invention also relates to vectors or organisms comprising an elongase gene with the sequence SEQ ID No: 1 or its homologs, derivatives or analogs. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and to a process for introducing DNA into organisms which produce large amounts of oils and, in particular, oils with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, the invention relates to an oil and/or a fatty acid preparation with a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids with at least two double bonds and/or a triacyiglycerol preparation with a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids with at least two double bonds.

The subject invention relates to the identification of a gene involved in the elongation of polyunsaturated fatty acids containing unsaturation at the carbon 9 position (i.e., “Δ9-elongase”) and to uses thereof. In particular, Δ9-elongase may be utilized, for example, in the conversion of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) to eicosadienoic acid (EDA, 20:2n-6). The production of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA, 20:3n-6) from eicosadienoic acid (EDA, 20:2n-6), and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) from dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA, 20:3n-6) is then catalyzed by Δ8-desaturase and Δ5-desaturase, respectively. AA or polyunsaturated fatty acids produced therefrom may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.

The present invention relates to a process for producing arachidonic acid and/or eicosapentaenoic acid in transgenic useful plants by introducing into the plant nucleic acids coding for polypeptides having Δ6-desaturase, Δ6-elongase or Δ5-desaturase activity. Furthermore, a gene coding for an ω3-desaturase is advantageously expressed in said useful plants. In another advantageous embodiment of the process, further nucleic acid sequences coding for polypeptides of fatty acid or lipid metabolism biosynthesis may be expressed in the plants. Particularly advantageous nucleic acid sequences here are those coding for a Δ8-desaturase, Δ12-desaturase, Δ15-desaturase, Δ4-desaturase, Δ9-elongase and/or Δ5-elongase activity.

The invention further relates to the use of the oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced in the process according to the invention in feedstuffs or foodstuffs, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals.

The invention relates to a method for the production of multiply-unsaturated fatty acids in an organism, into which nucleic acids have been introduced, which code for polypeptides with Δ-5 elongase activity. Said nucleic acid sequences, optionally with further nucleic acid sequences, coding for polypeptides for the biosynthesis of fatty acids and lipid metabolism, are advantageously expressed in the organism. Nucleic acid sequences coding for a Δ-6 desaturase, a Δ-5 desaturase, Δ-4 desaturase and/or Δ-6 elongase activity are particularly advantageous and, advantageously, said saturases and elongases are derived from Thalassiosira, Euglena or Ostreococcus. The invention further relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an increased content of long-chain, multiply-unsaturated fatty acids. A particular embodiment of the invention is a method for the production of unsaturated ω-3 fatty acids and a method for the production of triglycerides with an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, in particular, of Δ-3 fatty acids with more than three double bonds. Also disclosed is the production of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant, or a transgenic microorganism with increased content of ω-3 fatty acids, oils or lipids with ω-3 double bonds as a result of the expression of the elongases and desaturases employed in the above method, preferably in combination with ω-3 desaturases, for example a ω-3 desaturase from fungi of the family Pythiaceae such as the genus Phytophtora, for example, the genus and species Phytophtora infestans, or a ω-3 desaturase from algae such as the family Prasinophyceae, for example, the genus Ostreococcus and, particularly, the genus and species Ostreococcus tauri or diatomaceæ such as the genus Thalassiosira and, particularly, the genus and species Thalassiosira pseudonana. The invention also relates to the nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms containing the nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs and transgenic organisms containing said nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors. A further part of the invention relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced according to the above method and use thereof and, furthermore, unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides with an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and use thereof.

The invention discloses a method for detecting carcino-embryonic antigens by using an electrochemical nucleic acid aptamer sensor on the basis of terminal elongases. The method comprises the following steps: modifying a layer of 3' mercapto-terminated labeled carcino-embryonic antigen aptamer capturing probes on the surface of a gold electrode at first; then adding carcino-embryonic antigens and carcino-embryonic antigen aptamer signal probes, wherein the 3' mercapto-terminated labeled carcino-embryonic antigen aptamer capturing probes and the carcino-embryonic antigen aptamer signal probes can specifically recognize the carcino-embryonic antigens, so that a sandwich structure is formed on the surface of the electrode; extending biotin labeled nucleic acid long chains at 3' terminals of the carcino-embryonic antigen aptamer signal probes under the effect of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, wherein avidin labeled horse radish peroxidase can be combined to the biotin labeled nucleic acid long chains in a compatible manner; and detecting electrochemical signal change generated by horse radish peroxidase catalyzed electrolyte so as to realize high-sensitivity and high-specificity detection on the carcino-embryonic antigens. The method can be used for early diagnosis of tumors, curative effect judgment, progression of the disease, prognosis estimation and the like.

This document describes biochemical pathways for producing pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid, 7-hydroxyheptanoic acid, heptamethylenediamine or 1,7-heptanediol by forming one or two terminal functional groups, each comprised of carboxyl, amine or hydroxyl group, in a C7 aliphatic backbone substrate. These pathways, metabolic engineering and cultivation strategies described herein rely on the C1 elongation enzymes or homolog associated with coenzyme B biosynthesis.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the seed of transgenic plants by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids which encode polypeptides with a ω3-desaturase, Δ12-desaturase, Δ6-desaturase, Δ6-elongase, Δ5-desaturase, Δ5-elongase and/or Δ4-desaturase activity. The invention furthermore relates to recombinant nucleic acid molecules comprising the nucleic acid sequences which encode the aforementioned polypeptides, either jointly or individually, and transgenic plants which comprise the aforementioned recombinant nucleic acid molecules. Furthermore, the invention relates to the generation of a transgenic plant and to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids with an elevated content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and/or docosahexaenoic acid, as the result of the expression of the elongases and desaturases used in the process according to the invention.