Metabolic engineering of fatty acids in plants

For application in nutraceutical and industrial markets

Xiao Qiu

Department of food & Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Plant Biotechnology Institute, National Research Council, Canada

Metabolic engineering of plants to produce specialty fatty acids holds promise in providing cost-effective and sustainable sources of these fatty acids for nutraceutical and industrial uses. High levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have been produced in oilseed crops, representing a new potential source of these fatty acids for nutraceutical markets. However, an economically viable level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the most important omega-3 fatty acid for human health, has not yet been achieved. Metabolic engineering of specialty fatty acids for industrial applications is even more challenging. The amounts of unusual fatty acids produced in transgenic plants tend to be much lower than those in native species, implying that additional factors are required for the production of high levels of industrial fatty acids in plants. Some of the research results recently obtained from our laboratory, as well as future directions in the field, will be discussed.

Source:

Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference : Agricultural Biotechnology
for Better Living and a Clean Environment ,22-25 September 2009, Queen Sirikit
national convention center, Bangkok, Thailand