Control of triacylglycerol biosynthesis in plants
Seeds of most species of the Umbelliferae (Apiaciae), Araliaceae, and Garryaceae families are characterized by their high content of the unusual C[sub 18] monounsaturated fatty acid petroselinic acid (18:l[Delta][sup 6cis]). Prior to a recent report of this lab, little was known of the biosynthetic origin of the cis[Delta][sup 6] double bond of petroselinic acid. Such knowledge may be of both biochemical and biotechnological significance. Because petroselinic acid is potentially the product of a novel desaturase, information regarding its synthesis may contribute to an understanding of fatty acid desaturation mechanisms in plants. Through chemical cleavage at its double bond, petroselinic acid can be used as a precursor of lauric acid (12:0), a component of detergents and surfactants, and adipic acid (6:0 dicarboxylic), the monomeric component of nylon 6,6. Therefore, the development of an agronomic source of an oil rich in petroselinic acid is of biotechnological interest. As such, studies of petroselinic acid biosynthesis may provide basic information required for any attempt to genetically engineer the production and accumulation of this fatty acid in an existing oilseed.
- Research Organization:
- Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-87ER13729
- OSTI ID:
- 6573166
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/13729-5; ON: DE93013973
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ANABOLISM
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARROTS
ESTERS
FOOD
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LECITHINS
LIPIDS
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
METABOLISM
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHOLIPIDS
PLANTS
TRIGLYCERIDES
VEGETABLE OILS
VEGETABLES