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Plant lipid biotechnology through the looking glass
Author(s) -
Stumpf P. K.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02542497
Subject(s) - biosynthesis , production (economics) , microbiology and biotechnology , metric (unit) , enzyme , biochemical engineering , chemistry , biochemistry , biology , business , economics , engineering , marketing , microeconomics
The biosynthesis of economically important fatty acids has been resolved in recent years. The individua enzymes have been isolated, purified and characterized; the specific compartmentations of these enzymes in the cell have been determined; the flow of precursors required to supply the substrates for fatty acid synthesis has been defined. With these data at hand, a new thrust has been brought forth, namely the input of the concepts of molecular biology to the solution of a number of problems, which until now have not been resolved. If and when these problems are elucidated, application of these new solutions will have a profound effect on the agroeconomics involved in the annual production and consumption of over 50 million metric tons (m MT) of vegetable oil throughout the world. This discussion focuses on some of the problems facing plant scientists in their attempts to understand and control plant lipid biosynthesis. Some possible solutions will be suggested, and the impact of these solutions on the economy of nations will be examined.