DELTA12 DESATURASES SUITABLE FOR ALTERING LEVELS OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN OLEAGINOUS YEAST

摘要

The present invention relates to fungal Delta12 fatty acid desaturases that are able to catalyze the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid (LA; 18:2). Nucleic acid sequences encoding the desaturases, nucleic acid sequences which hybridize thereto, DNA constructs comprising the desaturase genes, and recombinant host microorganisms expressing increased levels of the desaturases are described. Methods of increasing production of specific omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids by over-expression of the Delta12 fatty acid desaturases are also described herein.