Expression of Fatty Acid Desaturases in Corn

• US 20080260929A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Ursin, Virginia, Froman, Byron, Gonzales, Jennifer, Nava, A.J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,378,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/601
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2300/21 Genetic modification
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/06 Antiasthmatics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 13/04 for urolithiasis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 13/12 of the kidneys
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/06 Antipsoriatics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/02 for joint disorders, e.g. arthritis, arthrosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/10 for osteoporosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8247 involving modified lipid metabolism, e.g. seed oil composition
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0083 Miscellaneous (1.14.99)
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6427 Polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA], i.e. having two or more double bonds in their backbone

Abstract

The invention relates generally to the expression of desaturase enzymes in transgenic corn plants and compositions derived therefrom. In particular, the invention relates to the production of oils with improved omega-3 fatty acid profiles in corn plants and the seed oils produced thereby. Such oils may contain stearidonic acid, which is not naturally found in corn plants and has been shown to have beneficial effects on health.

Claims

1. An endogenous corn seed oil having a stearidonic acid (18:

4 n-3) content of from about 0.1% to about 33%.

2. The corn seed oil of claim 1, wherein the stearidonic acid content is selected from the group consisting of from about 12% to about 15%, from about 10% to about 33%, from about 15% to about 32%, from about 20% to about 30%, and from about 25% to about 30%.

3. The corn seed oil of claim 1, wherein the corn seed oil is defined as comprising gamma-linolenic acid in a content selected from the group consisting of:

less than about 7.5%, less than about 5% and less than about 3%.

4. The corn seed oil of claim 1, wherein the ratio of stearidonic acid to gamma-linolenic acid is selected from the group consisting of:

from about 1;

1 to about 10;

1, from about 2;

1 to about 10;

1, from about 3;

1 to about 5;

1 and at least about 3;

1.

5. The corn seed oil of claim 1, wherein the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in the oil is selected from the group consisting of from about 0.5%:

1 to about 10;

1, from about 5;

1 to about 10;

1, and at least about 5;

1.

6. A corn seed comprising the seed oil of claim 1.

7. The corn seed of claim 6, defined as an inbred seed.

8. The corn seed of claim 6, defined as a hybrid seed.

9. A corn plant that produces a seed oil according to claim 1.

10. The corn plant claim 6, defined as an inbred plant.

11. The corn plant of claim 6, defined as a hybrid plant.

16. A method of producing seed oil, comprising growing the plant of claim 9 under plant growth conditions until the plant produces said seed oil.

17. A method of increasing the nutritional value of an edible product for human or non-human animal consumption, comprising adding the corn seed oil of claim 1 to the edible product.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the edible product is selected from the group consisting of human food, animal feed and a food supplement.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the corn seed oil increases the stearidonic acid content of the edible product.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the corn seed oil increases the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids of the edible product.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the edible product lacks stearidonic acid prior to adding the corn seed oil.

22. A method of manufacturing food and/or feed, comprising adding the corn seed oil of claim 1 to starting ingredients to produce the food and/or feed.

23. Food or feed made by the method of claim 22.

24. A method of providing stearidonic acid to a human or non-human animal, comprising administering the corn seed oil of claim 1 to said human or non-human animal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the corn seed oil is administered in an edible composition.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the edible composition is food or feed.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the food comprises beverages, infused foods, sauces, condiments, salad dressings, fruit juices, syrups, desserts, icings and fillings, soft frozen products, confections or intermediate moisture food.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the edible composition is food or feed for a companion animal.

29. The method of claims 25, wherein the edible composition is substantially a liquid or a solid.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the edible composition is a food supplement and/or a nutraceutical.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the corn seed oil is administered to a human.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the corn seed oil is administered to a non-human animal.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the corn seed oil is administered to livestock or poultry.

12. An isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO;

8;

(b) a polynucleotide hybridizing to SEQ ID NO;

8 under conditions of 5×

SSC, 50% formamide and 42°

C., wherein the polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide having desaturase activity that desaturates a fatty acid molecule at carbon 6; and

(c) a polynucleotide having at least 90% sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO;

8, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide having desaturase activity that desaturates a fatty acid molecule at carbon 6; and

(d) a complement of the sequence of (a), (b), or (c).

13. The polynucleotide of claim 12, further defined as comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

9.

14. A recombinant construct comprising the isolated polynucleotide of claim 12.

15. A transgenic plant transformed with the recombinant construct of claim 14.