Method of producing lipid

1. A method of producing lipids, comprising the steps of:

culturing a transformant into which a gene encoding at least one of the proteins selected from the group consisting of proteins (A), (B), and (C) has been introduced;

expressing the protein encoded by the gene during the culturing; and

producing fatty acids or lipids containing the same as components;

wherein proteins (A), (B) and (C) are:

(A) A protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of the 23 rd to 146 th amino acids set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1;

(B) A protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 90% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of protein (A), and having acyl carrier protein activity; and

(C) A protein comprising the amino acid sequence of protein (A) or (B), and having acyl carrier protein activity.

2. A method of improving the productivity of long-chain fatty acids or lipids containing the same, comprising the steps of:

culturing a Nannochloropsis transformant into which a gene encoding at least one of the proteins selected from the group consisting of proteins (A), (B), and (C) has been introduced;

expressing the protein encoded by the gene; and

producing long-chain fatty acids or lipids containing the same during the culturing;

wherein expressing the protein encoded by the gene increases the concentration of protein (A) or (B) in chloroplasts of the transformant as compared to the concentration of protein (A) or (B) in chloroplasts of the transformant's wild-type host strain that was not transformed with the gene;

wherein the transformant's productivity of long-chain fatty acids or lipids containing the same as components is improved as compared to that of the transformant's wild-type host that was not transformed with the gene;

and

wherein proteins (A), (B) and (C) are:

(A) A protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of the 23 rd to 146 th amino acids set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1;

(B) A protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 90% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of protein (A), and having acyl carrier protein activity; and

(C) A protein comprising the amino acid sequence of protein (A) or (B), and having acyl carrier protein activity.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein protein (C) is protein (C1):

(C1) A protein wherein a chloroplast transit signal peptide that functions in the transformant is operably linked to the N terminal side of the amino acid sequence of protein (A) or (B).

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein expression of a desaturase gene is enhanced in the transformant, and wherein the desaturase is at least one desaturase selected from the group consisting of a Δ12-desaturase, a Δ6-desaturase, an ω3-desaturase, and a Δ9-desaturase.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transformant is a transformant of an alga belonging to the genus Nannochloropsis.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fatty acids or lipids that are produced comprise a long-chain fatty acid or a fatty acid ester compound thereof.

7. A transformant that has been transformed with a gene encoding at least one protein selected from the group consisting of proteins (A), (B), (C), and (C1), wherein proteins (A), (B), (C), and (C1) are:

(A) A protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of the 23 rd to 146 th amino acids set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1;

(B) A protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 90% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of protein (A) and having acyl carrier protein activity;

(C) A protein comprising the amino acid sequence of protein (A) or (B), and having acyl carrier protein activity; and

(C1) A protein comprising a chloroplast transit signal peptide operably linked to the N terminal side of the amino acid sequence of protein (A) or (B).

8. The transformant according to claim 7 , wherein expression of a desaturase gene is enhanced, and wherein the desaturase is at least one desaturase selected from the group consisting of a Δ12-desaturase, a Δ6-desaturase, an ω3-desaturase, and a Δ9-desaturase.

9. The transformant of claim 7 , wherein the transformant is a transformant of an alga belonging to the genus Nannochloropsis.

10. A recombinant vector or DNA cassette comprising a gene encoding at least one protein selected from the group consisting of proteins (A), (B), (C), and (C1), wherein proteins (A), (B), (C), and (C1) are:

(A) A protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of the 23 rd to 146 th amino acids set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1;

(B) A protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 90% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of protein (A) and having acyl carrier protein activity;

(C) A protein comprising the amino acid sequence of protein (A) or (B), and having acyl carrier protein activity; and

(C1) A protein comprising a chloroplast transit signal peptide operably linked to the N terminal side of the amino acid sequence of protein (A) or (B).

11. The method according to claim 2 , wherein expression of a desaturase gene is enhanced in the transformant and wherein the desaturase is at least one desaturase selected from the group consisting of a Δ12-desaturase, a Δ6-desaturase, an ω3-desaturase, and a Δ9-desaturase.

12. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the fatty acids or lipids that are produced comprise a long-chain fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms or a fatty acid ester compound thereof.

13. The vector or DNA cassette of claim 10 , wherein the protein is protein (C1).