DGAT genes for increased seed storage lipid production and altered fatty acid profiles in oilseed plants
Polynucleotide sequences encoding diacylglycerol acyltransferase genes and the use of these acyltransferases for increased seed storage lipid production and altered fatty acid profiles in oilseed plants are disclosed. Transgenic soybean seed having increased total fatty acid content of at least 20% and altered fatty acids when compared to the total fatty acid content of non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed are described. Methods for increasing the total fatty acid content of a soybean seed by at least 20% include steps of transformation and selection.
1. A transgenic soybean seed having increased total fatty acid content of at least 20% and an increased protein content when compared to the total fatty acid content and protein content of a non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed, wherein the seed comprises at least one recombinant construct having at least one diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) sequence and a construct downregulating galactinol synthase (GAS) activity wherein the DGAT sequence and the GAS construct can be in the same recombinant construct or in separate recombinant constructs.
2. The transgenic soybean seed of claim 1 further wherein the DGAT sequence is a Yarrowia DGAT sequence.
3. The transgenic soybean seed of claim 1 , wherein the DGAT sequence is a DGAT1.
4. The transgenic soybean seed of claim 1 , wherein the DGAT sequence is a DGAT2.
5. The transgenic soybean seed of claim 1 , wherein the transgenic soybean seed has reduced soluble carbohydrate content when compared to the soluble carbohydrate content of the non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed.
6. The transgenic soybean seed of claim 5 , wherein the soluble carbohydrate content is at least one selected from the group of stachyose and raffinose.
7. A method for increasing the total fatty acid and protein content of a soybean seed comprising: (a) transforming at least one soybean cell with at least one recombinant construct having at least one diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) sequence and a construct downregulating galactinol synthase (GAS) activity wherein the DGAT sequence and the GAS construct can be in the same recombinant construct or in separate recombinant constructs; (b) selecting the transformed soybean cell(s) of step (a) such that plants grown from the transformed cells produce transgenic seed having an increased total fatty acid content of at least 20% and an increased protein content when compared to the total fatty acid and protein content of a non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the DGAT sequence is selected from the group consisting of DGAT1, DGAT2 and DGAT1 in combination with DGAT2.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the DGAT sequence is a DGAT1.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the DGAT sequence is a DGAT2.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the DGAT sequence is a Yarrowia sequence.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the DGAT sequence is a Yarrowia sequence.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the transgenic soybean seed has reduced soluble carbohydrate content when compared to the soluble carbohydrate content of the non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed.
14. The transgenic soybean seed of claim 13 , wherein the soluble carbohydrate content is at least one selected from the group of stachyose and raffinose.
15. A meal obtained from a transgenic soybean seed having increased total fatty acid content of at least 20% when compared to the total fatty acid content of a non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed, wherein the transgenic soybean seed comprises at least one recombinant construct having at least one diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) sequence and a construct downregulating galactinol synthase (GAS) activity wherein the DGAT sequence and the GAS construct can be in the same recombinant construct or in separate recombinant constructs, further wherein protein content is increased by at least 1.5% points in the meal obtained from the transgenic soybean seed compared to the protein content of a meal obtained from the non-transgenic null segregant soybean seed.
16. The meal of claim 15 , wherein the DGAT sequence is a Yarrowia DGAT sequence.
17. The meal of claim 15 , wherein soluble carbohydrate content is reduced when compared to the soluble carbohydrate content of a meal obtained from a non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed.
18. The meal of claim 17 , wherein the soluble carbohydrate content is stachyose.
19. The meal of claim 17 , wherein the soluble carbohydrate content is reduced by at least 17% when compared to the soluble carbohydrate content of a meal obtained from a non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed.
20. The meal of claim 17 , wherein the soluble carbohydrate content is raffinose.