FATTY ACID ELONGASES

摘要

Nucleic acids are disclosed that encode fatty acid .beta.-keto acyl synthases from plants. Such synthases are effective for producig very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), e.g., C22 to C26, preferentially saturated but also monounsaturated. Also disclosed are polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acids. Transgenic plants expressing these polypeptides exhibit altered levels of VLCFA in one or more tissues, such as seeds or leaves.