The present invention relates to processes for production of
Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (VLC-PUFAs). The present invention also relates to compositions (e.g., nutritional supplements,
food products, and pharmaceutic compositions) containing such VLC-PUFAs. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to methods for
biosynthesis and production of the VLC-PUFAs described herein (particularly C28-C40 PUFAs, also referred to herein as supraenes or supraenoics) by the expression, in a production host
cell, of the full or partial sequence(s) of Elovl4
DNA / mRNA nucleic acids or ELOVL4
protein sequences encoded thereby, from any species (prokaryotic or eukaryotic) for use in the
biosynthesis, production, purification and utilization of VLC-PUFAs in particular by the elongation of C18-C26 saturated fatty acids and PUFAs. The composition of the invention comprises, in various embodiments, a
dietary supplement, a food product, a nutritional formulation, a
pharmaceutical formulation, a humanized animal milk, an
infant formula, and a cosmetic item and for example. A
pharmaceutical formulation can include, but is not limited to: a composition for enhancing
neural development and function, a
drug for treatment of neurodegenerative
disease, an ocular disorder, a
retinal disorder,
age related maculopathy, a
fertility disorder, particularly regarding
sperm or testes, or a
skin disorder.