ALGAL ELONGASE 6

• US 20150104875A1
• Filed: 07/10/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aurora Algae, Incorporated (Reliance Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aurora Algae, Incorporated (Reliance Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Vick, Bertrand, KILIAN, OLIVER
• Granted Patent: US 9,376,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/471
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/79 Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8247 involving modified lipid metabolism, e.g. seed oil composition
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/1029 transferring groups other than amino-acyl groups (2.3.1)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/93 Ligases (6)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 602/01003 Long-chain-fatty-acid-CoA ligase (6.2.1.3)

Abstract

Provided herein are exemplary isolated nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides having elongase activity, which utilize fatty acids as substrates.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding elongase 6 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

14.

18. The vector of claim 17, wherein the polynucleotide sequence is SEQ ID NO:

6.

19. The vector of claim 17, further comprising a Violaxanthin-chlorophyll a binding protein (VCP) promoter.

20. The vector of claim 17, which is a transformation vector.

21. The vector of claim 17, which is a homologous recombination vector.

22. The vector of claim 17, which has been incorporated into the genome of an algal cell.

23. A method of modulating poly unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in an algal cell, the method comprising enhancing or suppressing the expression of elongase 6 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

14.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the expression of elongase 6 is enhanced and EPA production is increased in the algal cell.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the expression of elongase 6 is suppressed and EPA production is decreased in the algal cell.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the algal cell is a Nannochloropsis cell.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the algal cell is present in a Nannochloropsis alga.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the algal cell has been transformed with a stronger or weaker promoter in front of a genomic sequence encoding elongase 6 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

14.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the algal cell has been transformed to result in (1) an insertion in the genomic sequence encoding elongase 6 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

14;

or (2) a deletion or substitution of a portion or the full length of the genomic sequence encoding elongase 6.

30. A transformed algal cell with altered poly unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, wherein the algal cell has altered expression level of elongase 6 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

14.

31. The algal cell of claim 30, wherein a stronger or weaker promoter is placed in front of a genomic sequence encoding elongase 6 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

14.

32. The algal cell of claim 30, which has (1) an insertion in the genomic sequence encoding elongase 6 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

14;

or (2) a deletion or substitution of a portion or the full length of the genomic sequence encoding elongase 6.

33. The algal cell of claim 30, which is a Nannochloropsis cell.

34. The algal cell of claim 33, which is a part of a Nannochloropsis alga.