THE PLANT CELL, Vol 8, Issue 2 281-292, Copyright © 1996 by American Society of Plant Biologists

RESEARCH ARTICLES

A Jojoba [beta]-Ketoacyl-CoA Synthase cDNA Complements the Canola Fatty Acid Elongation Mutation in Transgenic Plants

M. W. Lassner, K. Lardizabal and J. G. Metz
Calgene, Inc., 1920 Fifth Street, Davis, California 95616

[beta]-Ketoacyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthase (KCS) catalyzes the condensation of malonyl-CoA with long-chain acyl-CoA. This reaction is the initial step of the microsomal fatty acyl-CoA elongation pathway responsible for formation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs, or fatty acids with chain lengths >18 carbons). Manipulation of this pathway is significant for agriculture, because it is the basis of conversion of high erucic acid rapeseed into canola. High erucic acid rapeseed oil, used as an industrial feedstock, is rich in VLCFAs, whereas the edible oil extracted from canola is essentially devoid of VLCFAs. Here, we report the cloning of a cDNA from developing jojoba embryos involved in microsomal fatty acid elongation. The jojoba cDNA is homologous to the recently cloned Arabidopsis FATTY ACID ELONGATION1 (FAE1) gene that has been suggested to encode KCS. We characterize the jojoba enzyme and present biochemical data indicating that the jojoba cDNA does indeed encode KCS. Transformation of low erucic acid rapeseed with the jojoba cDNA restored KCS activity to developing embryos and altered the transgenic seed oil composition to contain high levels of VLCFAs. The data reveal the key role KCS plays in determining the chain lengths of fatty acids found in seed oils.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y.-M. Qin, C.-Y. Hu, Y. Pang, A. J. Kastaniotis, J. K. Hiltunen, and Y.-X. Zhu Saturated Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acids Promote Cotton Fiber and Arabidopsis Cell Elongation by Activating Ethylene Biosynthesis PLANT CELL, November 1, 2007; 19(11): 3692 - 3704. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Ito, N. Nagata, Y. Yoshiba, M. Ohme-Takagi, H. Ma, and K. Shinozaki Arabidopsis MALE STERILITY1 Encodes a PHD-Type Transcription Factor and Regulates Pollen and Tapetum Development PLANT CELL, November 1, 2007; 19(11): 3549 - 3562. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-M. Qin, F. M. Pujol, C.-Y. Hu, J.-X. Feng, A. J. Kastaniotis, J. K. Hiltunen, and Y.-X. Zhu Genetic and biochemical studies in yeast reveal that the cotton fibre-specific GhCER6 gene functions in fatty acid elongation J. Exp. Bot., February 1, 2007; 58(3): 473 - 481. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Scarth and J. Tang Modification of Brassica Oil Using Conventional and Transgenic Approaches Crop Sci., April 25, 2006; 46(3): 1225 - 1236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Paul, K. Gable, F. Beaudoin, E. Cahoon, J. Jaworski, J. A. Napier, and T. M. Dunn Members of the Arabidopsis FAE1-like 3-Ketoacyl-CoA Synthase Gene Family Substitute for the Elop Proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae J. Biol. Chem., April 7, 2006; 281(14): 9018 - 9029. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Mietkiewska, E. M. Giblin, S. Wang, D. L. Barton, J. Dirpaul, J. M. Brost, V. Katavic, and D. C. Taylor Seed-Specific Heterologous Expression of a Nasturtium FAE Gene in Arabidopsis Results in a Dramatic Increase in the Proportion of Erucic Acid Plant Physiology, September 1, 2004; 136(1): 2665 - 2675. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Trenkamp, W. Martin, and K. Tietjen Specific and differential inhibition of very-long-chain fatty acid elongases from Arabidopsis thaliana by different herbicides PNAS, August 10, 2004; 101(32): 11903 - 11908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Han, K. Gable, S. D. Kohlwein, F. Beaudoin, J. A. Napier, and T. M. Dunn The Saccharomyces cerevisiae YBR159w Gene Encodes the 3-Ketoreductase of the Microsomal Fatty Acid Elongase J. Biol. Chem., September 13, 2002; 277(38): 35440 - 35449. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. S. Hooker, A. A. Millar, and L. Kunst Significance of the Expression of the CER6 Condensing Enzyme for Cuticular Wax Production in Arabidopsis Plant Physiology, August 1, 2002; 129(4): 1568 - 1580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Azachi, A. Sadka, M. Fisher, P. Goldshlag, I. Gokhman, and A. Zamir Salt Induction of Fatty Acid Elongase and Membrane Lipid Modifications in the Extreme Halotolerant Alga Dunaliella salina Plant Physiology, July 1, 2002; 129(3): 1320 - 1329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Moon, M. A. Smith, and L. Kunst A Condensing Enzyme from the Seeds of Lesquerella fendleri That Specifically Elongates Hydroxy Fatty Acids Plant Physiology, December 1, 2001; 127(4): 1635 - 1643. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Katavic, W. Friesen, D. L. Barton, K. K. Gossen, E.M. Giblin, T. Luciw, J. An, J. Zou, S. L. MacKenzie, W. A. Keller, et al. Improving Erucic Acid Content in Rapeseed through Biotechnology: What Can the Arabidopsis FAE1 and the Yeast SLC1-1 Genes Contribute?, Crop Sci., May 1, 2001; 41(3): 739 - 747. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. Kohlwein, S. Eder, C.-S. Oh, C. E. Martin, K. Gable, D. Bacikova, and T. Dunn Tsc13p Is Required for Fatty Acid Elongation and Localizes to a Novel Structure at the Nuclear-Vacuolar Interface in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mol. Cell. Biol., January 1, 2001; 21(1): 109 - 125. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. B. Cahoon, E.-F. Marillia, K. L. Stecca, S. E. Hall, D. C. Taylor, and A. J. Kinney Production of Fatty Acid Components of Meadowfoam Oil in Somatic Soybean Embryos Plant Physiology, September 1, 2000; 124(1): 243 - 252. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. M. Parker-Barnes, T. Das, E. Bobik, A. E. Leonard, J. M. Thurmond, L.-T. Chaung, Y.-S. Huang, and P. Mukerji Identification and characterization of an enzyme involved in the elongation of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids PNAS, July 18, 2000; 97(15): 8284 - 8289. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. G. Metz, M. R. Pollard, L. Anderson, T. R. Hayes, and M. W. Lassner Purification of a Jojoba Embryo Fatty Acyl-Coenzyme A Reductase and Expression of Its cDNA in High Erucic Acid Rapeseed Plant Physiology, March 1, 2000; 122(3): 635 - 644. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. D. Lardizabal, J. G. Metz, T. Sakamoto, W. C. Hutton, M. R. Pollard, and M. W. Lassner Purification of a Jojoba Embryo Wax Synthase, Cloning of its cDNA, and Production of High Levels of Wax in Seeds of Transgenic Arabidopsis Plant Physiology, March 1, 2000; 122(3): 645 - 656. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Yephremov, E. Wisman, P. Huijser, C. Huijser, K. Wellesen, and H. Saedler Characterization of the FIDDLEHEAD Gene of Arabidopsis Reveals a Link between Adhesion Response and Cell Differentiation in the Epidermis PLANT CELL, November 1, 1999; 11(11): 2187 - 2202. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. A. Millar, S. Clemens, S. Zachgo, E. M. Giblin, D. C. Taylor, and L. Kunst CUT1, an Arabidopsis Gene Required for Cuticular Wax Biosynthesis and Pollen Fertility, Encodes a Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acid Condensing Enzyme PLANT CELL, May 1, 1999; 11(5): 825 - 838. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. Muramoto, T. Kohchi, A. Yokota, I. Hwang, and H. M. Goodman The Arabidopsis Photomorphogenic Mutant hy1 Is Deficient in Phytochrome Chromophore Biosynthesis as a Result of a Mutation in a Plastid Heme Oxygenase PLANT CELL, March 1, 1999; 11(3): 335 - 348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Lessire, S. Chevalier, K. Lucet-Levannier, J.-P. Lellouche, C. Mioskowski, and C. Cassagne Study of the 3-Hydroxy Eicosanoyl-Coenzyme A Dehydratase and (E)-2,3 Enoyl-Coenzyme A Reductase Involved in Acyl-Coenzyme A Elongation in Etiolated Leek Seedlings Plant Physiology, March 1, 1999; 119(3): 1009 - 1016. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. A. Millar, M. Wrischer, and L. Kunst Accumulation of Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Membrane Glycerolipids Is Associated with Dramatic Alterations in Plant Morphology PLANT CELL, November 1, 1998; 10(11): 1889 - 1902. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Bao, M. Pollard, and J. Ohlrogge The Biosynthesis of Erucic Acid in Developing Embryos of Brassica rapa Plant Physiology, September 1, 1998; 118(1): 183 - 190. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				Q. Qi, P. A. Rose, G. D. Abrams, D. C. Taylor, S. R. Abrams, and A. J. Cutler (+)-Abscisic Acid Metabolism, 3-Ketoacyl-Coenzyme A Synthase Gene Expression, and Very-Long-Chain Monounsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Brassica napus Embryos Plant Physiology, July 1, 1998; 117(3): 979 - 987. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Hlousek-Radojcic, K. J. Evenson, J. G. Jaworski, and D. Post-Beittenmiller Fatty Acid Elongation Is Independent of Acyl-Coenzyme A Synthetase Activities in Leek and Brassica napus Plant Physiology, January 1, 1998; 116(1): 251 - 258. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				Y.-A. Moon, N. A. Shah, S. Mohapatra, J. A. Warrington, and J. D. Horton Identification of a Mammalian Long Chain Fatty Acyl Elongase Regulated by Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Proteins J. Biol. Chem., November 21, 2001; 276(48): 45358 - 45366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Xu, C. R. Dietrich, R. Lessire, B. J. Nikolau, and P. S. Schnable The Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Maize GL8 Protein Is a Component of the Acyl-Coenzyme A Elongase Involved in the Production of Cuticular Waxes Plant Physiology, March 1, 2002; 128(3): 924 - 934. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]