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Changes in fatty acid composition in plant tissues expressing a mammalian Δ9 desaturase

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Lipids

Abstract

Plant tissues expressing a mammalian stearoyl-CoA Δ9 desaturase were reported to accumulate Δ9 hexadecenoic acid (16∶1), normally very minor in most plant tissues. The transgenic plants were thoroughly analyzed for alterations of individual lipids in different subcellular sites. Western blot analysis indicated that the animal desaturase was targeted to the microsomes. The Δ9 16∶1 was incorporated into both the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of all the major membrane lipids tested, indicating that the endoplasmic reticulum acyltransferases do not exclude unsaturated C16 fatty acids from the sn-2 position. In addition to increases in monounsaturated and decreases in saturated fatty acids, accumulation of 16∶1 was accompanied by a reduction in 18∶3 in all the lipids tested except phosphatidylglycerol, and increases in 18∶2 in phospholipids. Total C16 fatty acid content in the galactolipids of the transgenics was significantly higher than that in the control, but those in the phospholipids were unchanged. In transgenics, Δ11 18∶1 was detected in the sn-1 position of the lipids tested except phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine. Introduction of the animal desaturase, controlled by a seed-specific phaseolin promoter, into soybean somatic embryo resulted in a significant reduction in saturated fatty acids. Such effects were greater in cotyledons than hypocotyl-radicles. This study demonstrated that the animal desaturase can be used to decrease the levels of saturated fatty acids in a crop plant.

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Abbreviations

ACP:

acyl carrier protein

BHT:

butylated hydroxytoluene

C n fatty acid(s):

fatty acid(s) with n carbon atoms

DGD:

digalactosyldiacylglycerol

ER:

endoplasmic reticulum

GC:

gas chromatography

KAS:

3-ketoacyl-ACP synthase

LPAAT:

lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase

MGD:

monogalactosyldiacylglycerol

MS:

mass spectrometry

PA:

phosphatidic acid

PC:

phosphatidylcholine

PE:

phosphatidylethanolamine

PG:

phosphatidylglycerol

PI:

phosphatidylinositol

PS:

phosphatidylserine

RDS:

rat liver stearoyl-CoA Δ9 desaturase

SDS:

sodium dodecyl sulfate

X/Y:

a fatty acyl group containing X carbon atoms and Y cis double bonds

UV:

ultraviolet

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Author notes

  1. Hangsik Moon

    Present address: Dept. of Botany, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., V6T 174, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 50131-1004, Johnston, Iowa

    Jan Hazebroek

  2. N-103 Agricultural Science Center-North, Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky, 40546-0091, Lexington, KY

    Hangsik Moon & David F. Hildebrand

Authors
  1. Hangsik Moon
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  2. Jan Hazebroek
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  3. David F. Hildebrand
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Correspondence to David F. Hildebrand.

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Moon, H., Hazebroek, J. & Hildebrand, D.F. Changes in fatty acid composition in plant tissues expressing a mammalian Δ9 desaturase. Lipids 35, 471–479 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-000-546-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-000-546-6

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