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Category: biotechnology & health

BSA 97-08: Modified Acyl-ACP Desaturase

BNL Reference Number: BSA 97-08

Patent Status: U.S. Patent Number 5,888,790 was issued on March 30, 1999

Summary

Schematic view of the substrate channel of the D9-18:0-ACP desaturase. A model of the stearic acid (18:0) substrate is fitted in the binding pocket of the D9-18:0-ACP desaturase, and amino acid side chains important in fatty acid chain-length specificity are shown as stick models (with red labels). Residues that have been replaced in mutants of the D6-16:0-ACP desaturase are indicated in cyan, and mutant L118FyP179I is shown in magenta.

Each oilseed crop develops its own specific collection of saturated and unsaturated, modified or unmodified fatty acids in its seeds, making some oilseeds useful as starting sources of useful chemical feedstocks. This invention enables alteration of the collection by direct modification of the specificity of desaturase enzymes that introduce the first double bond into a saturated fatty acid molecule.

Description

Describes a method for modifying the chain length and double bond positional specificities of soluble plant fatty acid desaturase (acyl-ACP desaturase) by modifying amino acid residues in the substrate binding channel. Continuation in part of 5,705,391 (BSA 96-19).

Benefits

The method can be used to understand the catalytic mechanism of other enzymes involved in the synthesis of plant seed oil. Production of specific chemical feedstocks in plants is enabled such that high-value feedstocks may be produced in more highly productive crop plants, for example producing linoleic acid in soybean rather than in flax!

Applications and Industries

Understanding of the catalytic mechanism of acyl-ACP desaturase will help in the production of specialized plant seed oils and permit development of highly productive oilseed crops that yield highly valuable oils.