Progress in the genetic engineering of cereals to produce essential polyunsaturated fatty acids

Publication date: Available online 27 August 2018Source: Journal of BiotechnologyAuthor(s): Ján Kraic, Daniel Mihálik, Lenka Klčová, Marcela Gubišová, Tatiana Klempová, Martina Hudcovicová, Katarína Ondreičková, Michaela Mrkvová, Michaela Havrlentová, Jozef Gubiš, Milan ČertíkAbstractEssential polyunsaturated fatty acids with more than two double bonds and length of carbon chain 18-22 must be taken in the diet to prevent diseases and imbalances caused by their deficiency. Terrestrial sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids are limited to only a few plant species whose large-scale cultivation is not possible and the production of their seeds and oil is ineffective. The complete biosynthetic pathway of fatty acids is known in organisms, including plants. After the first gene encoding the enzyme catalysing the initial steps of PUFA biosynthesis (ω-3 desaturase, Δ6-desaturase) were isolated, isolation of other genes encoding relevant enzymes of the PUFA pathway from different donor organisms followed. Genetic transformations of model plants by the desaturase- and elongase-encoding genes opened the way for the genetic engineering of oilseed crop species. Some of the developed transgenic plants produced PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. Seed oils extracted from them were similar to fish oil. Tools of the synthetic biology can be applied in modifications of the PUFA pathway and also in overcoming of limitations when the gene and its expres...
Source: Journal of Biotechnology - Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research