USE OF A CLASS OF GENES ENCODING LYSOPHOSPHOLIPID ACYL TRANSFERASES FOR APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE, BIOTECHNOLOGY, AND MEDICINE

摘要

This invention relates to the use of a novel enzyme and its encoding gene in biotechnological and biomedical applications. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of yeast and plant genes encoding an enzyme with acyl-CoA : lysophospholipid acyltransferase (LPLAT) activity, as well as related genes in other eukaryotes that encode enzymes with similar activities. By transgenic expression of these enzymes, or homologous enzymes with suitable acyl group specificity from other organisms, the rate of transfer of desired acyl groups between the acyl-CoA pool and phospholipids can be increased. The invention also describes how LPLATs with particular acyl specificities can be obtained that can be used to accumulate high amounts of desired fatty acids in various organisms. This in turn will lead to increased biosynthesis and accumulation of nutritionally and industrially important fatty acids in organisms used for oil production. An increased rate of phospholipid turnover will also improve the ability of transgenic organisms to adapt to changes in the environment. Another embodiment of the invention can be used to develop drugs that target the LPLAT family of enzymes for use in treatment of metabolic disorders, as well as auto-immune, inflammatory and neoplastic disorders involving signaling pathways such as the prostaglandin, thromboxane, prostacyclin, leukotriene and phosphoinositide pathways. Yet another embodiment of the invention describes a method for diagnosis of genetic traits affecting such disorders and other genetically determined traits of importance in human or veterinary medicine, agriculture, or breeding of plants or animals.