Cornell Research Foundation Inc.

Stuart J Miller

Douglas C Knipple

Wendell L Roelofs

The present invention is directed to isolated membrane-associated acyl-CoA desaturases expressed in the pheromone gland of an insect and, in particular, the .DELTA.11 desaturase of Trichoplusia ni. The present invention further relates to an isolated DNA molecule encoding the T. ni .DELTA.11 desaturase, expression vectors comprising the DNA molecule, and host cells comprising the expression vectors. Methods for isolating DNA sequences of homologous acyl-CoA desaturases expressed in the pheromone glands of insects are provided. The use of these acyl-CoA desaturases, DNA molecules, expression vectors, and host cells to produce an unsaturated fatty acyl-CoA product from a saturated or unsaturated fatty acyl-CoA reactant is also disclosed. The unsaturated fatty acyl-CoA products are useful as pheromones or as pheromone precursors as well as in the preparation of organic molecules, such as drugs.

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Geneva, NY, United States of America

Stuart J Miller