| 摘要 |
An isolated nucleic acid from a plant or algae which encodes a polypeptide which extends a C16, C18 or C20 fatty acid having at least two double bonds by at least two carbon atoms, is new. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide which extends a C16, C18 or C20 fatty acid having at least two double bonds by at least two carbon atoms, and having the 1192, 687, 955 or 708 base pair (bp) sequence fully defined in the specification, a genetic code degenerate or derivative of one of those sequences, or encoding the 290, 195, 297 or 214 amino acid sequence fully defined in the specification, or a sequence with at least 50% homology to one of those sequences where the enzymatic activity is not substantially reduced; (2) a gene construct comprising one of the above nucleic acids linked to one or more regulatory sequences; (3) amino acid sequences encoded by the above nucleic acids or construct; (4) a vector comprising the above nucleic acids or construct; (5) an organism comprising the above nucleic acids, construct or vector; (6) an antibody which specifically binds to the product of the above nucleic acids; (7) an antisense nucleic acid molecule complementary to one of the above nucleic acids; (8) producing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), comprising breeding organisms containing the above nucleic acids, construct or vector, encoding a polypeptide which extends a C16, C18 or C20 fatty acid having at least two double bonds by at least two carbon atoms, under PUFA forming conditions; (9) an oil, lipid, fatty acid or its fraction, produced by the above method; (10) an oil, lipid or fatty acid composition containing PUFAs from transgenic plants, preferably where the transgenic plant comprises the above nucleic acids, construct or vector; (11) identifying an elongase (ant)agonist comprising contacting cells expressing the polypeptide of the invention with a candidate compound, testing PSE activity and comparing activity with a control standard. |
