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 yeast cell, a plant or a part thereof comprising an exogenous acyl-CoA Δ12 desaturase which is capable of desaturating oleoyl-CoA and an increased level of production of 16:2 Δ9,Δ12 and/or 18:2 Δ9,Δ12 fatty acids relative to a corresponding yeast cell, plant or part thereof lacking the exogenous Δ12 desaturase, and
ii) extracting oil from the cell, the plant or the part thereof.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein step ii) comprises producing crude oil by cooking, pressing and/or crushing the yeast cell, 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 step i) comprises obtaining a yeast cell which comprises the exogenous acyl-CoA Δ12 desaturase and the increased level of production of 16:2 Δ9,Δ12 and/or 18:2 Δ9,Δ12 fatty acids, and step (ii) comprises extracting oil from the yeast cell.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the yeast cell, 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 yeast cell, plant or part thereof lacking the Δ12 desaturase.
7. The process of claim 5 , wherein step ii) comprises producing crude oil by cooking, pressing and/or crushing the yeast cell.
8. The process of claim 7 further comprises degumming, refining, bleaching and/or deodorizing the crude oil.
9. The process of claim 5 which comprises using a solvent to extract the crude oil.
10. The process of claim 5 , wherein the yeast cell 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 yeast cell lacking the Δ12 desaturase.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein step i) comprises obtaining a plant or part thereof which comprises the exogenous acyl-CoA Δ12 desaturase and the increased level of production of 16:2 Δ9,Δ12 and/or 18:2 Δ9,Δ12 fatty acids, and step (ii) comprises extracting oil from the plant or part thereof.
12. The process of claim 11 , wherein step ii) comprises producing crude oil by cooking, pressing and/or crushing the plant or part thereof.
13. The process of claim 12 which further comprises degumming, refining, bleaching and/or deodorizing the crude oil.
14. The process of claim 11 which comprises using a solvent to extract the crude oil.
15. The process of claim 11 , wherein step (ii) comprises extracting oil from a seed of a plant.
16. The process of claim 11 , wherein step (ii) comprises extracting oil from an oilseed.
17. The process of claim 11 , 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 Δ12 desaturase.