Synthesis of fatty acids
The present invention relates to enzymes which possess desaturase, conjugase, epoxidase and/or hydroxylase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing fatty acids.
1. A process for producing oil containing unsaturated fatty acids comprising
i) obtaining a plant or part thereof comprising an acyl-CoA Δ12 desaturase and an increased level of 16:2 Δ9,Δ12 and/or 18:2 Δ9,Δ12 fatty acids relative to a corresponding plant or part thereof lacking the acyl-CoA Δ12 desaturase, and
ii) extracting oil from the plant or part thereof.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein step ii) comprises producing crude oil by cooking, pressing and/or crushing the plant or part thereof.
3. The process of claim 2 which further comprises
degumming, refining, bleaching and/or deodorizing the crude oil.
4. The process of claim 1 which comprises using a solvent to extract the crude oil.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the plant or part thereof is a seed.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the plant is an oilseed.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the plant or part thereof comprises an increased level of 16:2 Δ9,Δ12 and/or 18:2 Δ9,Δ12 fatty acids which are esterified to CoA relative to a corresponding plant or part thereof lacking the acyl-CoA Δ12 desaturase.