Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Calgene Corporation

Monsanto Technology LLC

Amanda Eun-Yeong Leonard

Pradip Mukerji

Yung-Sheng Huang

Jennifer M Thurmond

Suzette Pereira

Tapas Das

Sunita Chaudhary

Deborah Knutzon

Jennifer Parker-Barnes

Stephen J Kirchner

Robert George Hards

Steven A Lemmel

Suzette L Pereira

The present invention relates to fatty acid desaturases able to catalyze the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid, linoleic acid to &#x3b3;-linolenic acid, or of alpha-linolenic acid to stearidonic acid. Nucleic acid sequences encoding desaturases, nucleic acid sequences which hybridize thereto, DNA constructs comprising a desaturase gene, and recombinant host microorganism or animal expressing increased levels of a desaturase are described. Methods for desaturating a fatty acid and for producing a desaturated fatty acid by expressing increased levels of a desaturase are disclosed. Fatty acids, and oils containing them, which have been desaturated by a desaturase produced by recombinant host microorganisms or animals are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions, infant formulas or dietary supplements containing fatty acids which have been desaturated by a desaturase produced by a recombinant host microorganism or animal also are described.

Methods and compositions for synthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

The subject invention relates to the identification of several genes involved in the elongation of polyunsaturated fatty 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 &#x3c9;3-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, &#x3c9;6-docosapentaenoic acid or &#x3c9;3-docosapentaenoic acid which may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.

Elongase genes and uses thereof

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preparing polyunsaturated long chain fatty acids in plants, plant parts and plant cells, such as leaves, roots, fruits and seeds. Nucleic acid sequences and constructs encoding fatty acid desaturases, including &#x394;5-desaturases, &#x394;6-desaturases and &#x394;12-desaturases, are used to generate transgenic plants, plant parts and cells which contain and express one or more transgenes encoding one or more desaturases. Expression of the desaturases with different substrate specificities in the plant system permit the large scale production of polyunsaturated long chain fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, &#x3b1;-linolenic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid and the like for modification of the fatty acid profile of plants, plant parts and tissues. Manipulation of the fatty acid profiles allows for the production of commercial quantities of novel plant oils and products.

Methods and compositions for synthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plants

The subject invention relates to the identification of genes involved in the desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids at carbon 4 (i.e., '&#x394;4-desaturase'). In particular, &#x394;4-desaturase may be utilized, for example, in the conversion of adrenic acid to &#x3c9;6-docosapentaenoic acid and in the conversion of &#x3c9;3-docosapentaenoic acid to docosahexaenoic acid. The polyunsaturated fatty acids produced by use of the enzyme may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.

&#x394;4-desaturase genes and uses thereof

The subject invention relates to the identification of genes involved in the desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids at carbon 5 (i.e., '&#x394;5-desaturase') and at carbon 6 (i.e., '&#x394;6-desaturase') and to uses thereof. In particular, &#x394;5-desaturase may be utilized, for example, in the conversion of dihomo-&#x3b3;-linolenic acid (DGLA) to arachidonic acid (AA) and in the conversion of 20:4n-3 to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Delta-6 desaturase may be used, for example, in the conversion of linoleic (LA) to &#x3b3;-linolenic acid (GLA). 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.

Desaturase genes and uses thereof

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 dihomogama linolenic acid (DGLA) and in the conversion of DGLA or 20:4n-3 to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). DGLA may be utilized in the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachiodonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), EPA, adrenic acid, &#x3c9;6-docosapentaenoic acid or &#x3c9;3-docosapentaenoic acid which may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.

The subject invention relates to the identification of a gene involved in the desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids at carbon 5 (i.e., 'human &#x394;5-desaturase') and to uses thereof. In particular, human &#x394;5-desaturase may be utilized, for example, in the conversion of dihomo-&#x3b3;-linolenic acid (DGLA) to arachidonic acid (AA) and in the conversion of 20:4n-3 to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). 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.

Human desaturase gene and uses thereof

The subject invention relates to the identification of several genes involved in the elongation of polyunsaturated acids (i.e., &ldquo;elongases&rdquo;) 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 &ohgr;3-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, &ohgr;6-docosapentaenoic acid or &ohgr;3-docosapentaenoic acid which may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.

The subject invention relates to the identification of a gene involved in the desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids at carbon 5 (i.e., &ldquo;human &Dgr;5-desaturase&rdquo;) and to uses thereof. In particular, human &Dgr;5-desaturase may be utilized, for example, in the conversion of dihomo-&ggr;-linolenic acid (DGLA) to arachidonic acid (AA) and in the conversion of 20:4n-3 to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). 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.

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Gahanna, OH, United States of America

Amanda Eun-Yeong Leonard