The production of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in transgenic plants by reverse-engineering
Abstract
The nutritional importance of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) is now well-established, with these lipids playing roles in human development and the prevention of various diseases. In particular, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are protective against cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risks associated with metabolic syndrome. In view of the decline in marine fish stocks, which represent the predominant natural reserves of n-3 long chain polyunsaturates, alternative sources are urgently required. One approach may be to express the LC-PUFA-biosynthetic pathway in transgenic plants. Recent progress in validating this approach has now emerged, demonstrating the feasibility of using transgenic plants to synthesise these important human nutrients.
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Diatom species have been identified that generate biomolecules with human health benefits or commercial application, such as omega-3 fatty acids.
“In addition, diatom species have been identified that generate a number of interesting biomolecules that have human health benefits or commercial application, such as omega-3 fatty acids [89,90].”
From Biofuels from algae: Challenges and potential (2010) · cites this paper as [90]
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- Authors
- Napier, J. A., Beaudoin, F., Michaelson, L. V., & Sayanova, O.
- Affiliations
- Rothamsted Research (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Napier, Johnathan A.
- Venue
- Biochimie
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-11
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 785-792
- ISSN
- 0037-9042 (ISSN-L)
- 0300-9084
- OpenAlex
- W2000398692
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biochimie (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Rothamsted Repository (Rothamsted Repository) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Directorate for Biological Sciences
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBS/E/C/00004156)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Keywords
- long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, transgenic plants, fatty acid synthesis, reverse engineering, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Genetic Engineering, Humans, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Plants, Genetically Modified
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