Synthetic fatty acid desaturase gene for expression in plants

• US 6,825,335 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rutgers University
• Original Assignee: Rutgers University
• Inventors: Martin, Charles E., Mitchell, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, David T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kallis, Russell
• Application Number:
  US09/763,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 536/23.1, 536/23.2, 536/23.7, 536/23.74, 435/189, 435/69.1, 435/69.9, 435/183, 800/278, 800/281, 530/350, 530/820, 530/824
• US Class Current: 536/23.74
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2319/00 Fusion polypeptide
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8247 involving modified lipid metabolism, e.g. seed oil composition
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0073 with NADH or NADPH as one donor, and incorporation of one atom of oxygen 1.14.13
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0083 Miscellaneous (1.14.99)

Abstract

A synthetic fatty acid desaturase gene for expression in a multicellular plant is provided. The gene comprises a desaturase domain and a cyt b₅ domain, and is customized for expression in a plant cytoplasm. Methods for designing and making a synthetic fatty acid desaturase gene customized for expression in a plant cytoplasm are also provided.

Claims

1. A synthetic fatty acid desaturase gene for expression in a multicellular plant, the gene comprising SEQ ID NO:

3, wherein the gene is customized from a naturally occurring cytosolic Δ

-9 desaturase gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae for expression in a plant cytoplasm.

2. The synthetic gene of claim 1, which further comprises an expression regulatory sequence from a plant gene encoding an ER biosynthetic pathway enzyme.

3. The synthetic gene of claim 1, customized for expression in a monocotyledonous plant.

4. The synthetic gene of claim 1, customized for expression in a dicotyledonous plant.

5. The synthetic gene of claim 1, customized for expression in a plant genus selected from the group consisting of Arabidopsis, Brassica, Phaeseolus, Oryza, Olea, Elaeis (Oil Palm) and Zea.

6. The synthetic gene of claim 1, customized from a naturally occurring gene comprising both a desaturase domain and a cyt b₅ domain.

7. The synthetic gene of claim 1, wherein the gene is a chimeric gene comprising a desaturase domain and a heterologous cyt b₅ domain.

8. The synthetic gene of claim 1, customized from a naturally occurring gene such that the synthetic gene and the naturally occurring gene encode an identical amino acid sequence.

9. The synthetic gene of claim 8, wherein the synthetic gene and the naturally occurring gene encode SEQ ID NO:

2.

10. The synthetic gene of claim 1, customized from a naturally occurring gene such that the synthetic gene and the naturally occurring gene encode a similar amino acid sequence.

11. The synthetic gene of claim 1, customized from a naturally occurring gene such that the synthetic gene and the naturally occurring gene encode a similar amino acid sequence, and the synthetic gene possesses improved stability or catalytic activity as compared with the naturally occurring gene.