ECTOPIC OVEREXPRESSION OF MUCACP-Δ9 DESATURASE LEADS TO Ω-7 FATTY ACID ACCUMULATION IN TOBACCO LEAVES

Chang-Yong Gao; Xue Mao; Hong-Qin Shang; Xia-Jie Ji; Run-Zhi Li

doi:10.9755/ejfa.EJFA-2016-10-1356

Authors

Chang-Yong Gao nstitute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi 030801, P. R. China, Department of Life Science, Heze University, Shandong 274015, P. R. China
Xue Mao Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi 030801, P. R. China,
Hong-Qin Shang Department of Life Science, Heze University, Shandong 274015, P. R. China
Xia-Jie Ji Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi 030801, P. R. China,
Run-Zhi Li Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi 030801, P. R. China,

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.EJFA-2016-10-1356

Keywords:

Metabolic engineering, MucACP-Δ9 desaturase, Omega-7 fatty acid, Plant oil, Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Abstract

MucACP-Δ9D from cat’s claw (Macfadyena unguis-cati) was ectopically overexpressed in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves to increase
the content of omega-7 (ω-7) fatty acids, which have nutraceutical and industrial values for polyethylene and biofuel production. Overexpressed
MucACP-Δ9D localized in the plastid resulted in an increased ω-7 fatty acid (C16:1Δ9 and C18:1Δ11) content from trace level in the wild
type to 25.4-29.7% in the transgenic tobacco leaves. The C16:0, C18:2, and C18:3 fatty acid content decreased by 30-50%, 24%, and
38.7% in the transgenics compared with the wild type, respectively. This evidences that the ectopically expressed MucACP-Δ9D enzyme
actively converts C16:0 to C16:1Δ9. MucACP-Δ9D overexpression in tobacco had no adverse effects on any agronomic traits, including
plant growth, development, or seed germination. The present findings provide an excellent germplasm resource and a new technological
path for commercial production of valuable fatty acids, using high-biomass vegetative organs of a non-food crop as platforms.