Metabolic engineering of oilseed crops to produce high levels of novel acetyl glyceride oils with reduced viscosity, freezing point and calorific value

• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12325
• Publication Date: 2015-03-10T11:41:45Z
• Authors: Jinjie Liu; Adam Rice; Kathleen McGlew; Vincent Shaw; Hyunwoo Park; Tom Clemente; Mike Pollard; John Ohlrogge; Timothy P. Durrett
• Keywords: Glyceride; Camelina

Summary Seed oils have proved recalcitrant to modification for the production of industrially useful lipids. Here, we demonstrate successful metabolic engineering and subsequent field an oilseed crop with highest accumulation unusual oil achieved so far in transgenic plants. Previously, expression E uonymus alatus diacylglycerol acetyltransferase ( a DA c T ) gene wild‐type A rabidopsis seeds resulted 45 mol% 3‐acetyl‐1,2‐diacyl‐ sn ‐glycerols (acetyl‐ TAG s) seed (Durrett et al ., 2010 PNAS 107:9464). Expression dgat1 mutants compromised their ability synthesize regular triacylglycerols increased acetyl‐ s 65 mol%. Camelina soybean transformed accumulate acetyl‐triacylglycerols at up 70 oil. similar strategy coexpression together RNA i suppression DGAT 1 levels 85 field‐grown C amelina. Additionally, total moles triacylglycerol per 20%. Analysis fraction revealed twofold reduction very long chain fatty acids VLCFA ), consistent displacement from ‐3 position by acetate. germination remained high, seedlings were able metabolize stored as rapidly triacylglycerols. Viscosity, freezing point caloric content amelina reduced, enabling use this several nonfood food applications.