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Progress toward the production of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in transgenic plants
Author(s) -
Napier Johnathan A.,
Sayanova Olga,
Qi Baoxiu,
Lazarus Colin M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
lipids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.601
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1558-9307
pISSN - 0024-4201
DOI - 10.1007/s11745-004-1332-1
Subject(s) - polyunsaturated fatty acid , docosahexaenoic acid , long chain , fish oil , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , eicosapentaenoic acid , limiting , fish <actinopterygii> , biochemistry , chemistry , fatty acid , fishery , mechanical engineering , polymer science , engineering
Long‐chain PUFA such as eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids are prevalent in fish oils, and these compounds have been demonstrated to play important roles in human health and nutrition. In particular, these n−3/omega‐3 long‐chain PUFA provide protection from cardiovascular disease and a collection of symptoms (termed metabolic syndrome) associated with progression toward type 2 diabetes and obesity. Within Western populations, a large increase in the occurrence of these conditions represents a major public health concern. Unfortunately, both marine fish stocks and (consequentially) consumption of fish oils are in steep decline, limiting the protective role of long‐chain PUFA in human health. One alternative approach to the provision of these health‐beneficial FA is via their synthesis in transgenic plants. This review will describe recent advances in the production of transgenic plant oils nutritionally enhanced to produce long‐chain PUFA.