Method for producing branched fatty acids using genetically modified plants

Abstract

The invention relates to plant cells comprising a recombinant nucleic acid coding for a product which induces or stimulates the synthesis of branched fatty acids in said cells. It also relates to a production process for branched fatty acids using these plant cells or plants containing it.

1 . Production process for branched fatty acids, characterized in that said branched fatty acids are produced from at least one plant cell or from one plant material or from a plant comprising at least one plant cell, said plant cell comprising in its genome a recombinant nucleic acid coding for a product which induces or stimulates the synthesis of branched fatty acid(s).  
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises in addition an extraction step of the branched fatty acids.  
     
     
         3 . Process according to  claim 2 , characterized in that it comprises in addition a treatment step of the extracted branched fatty acids.  
     
     
         4 . Process according to one of the  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the recombinant nucleic acid codes for a product which induces or stimulates the postsynthetic branching of the fatty acids produced by said cell.  
     
     
         5 . Process according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the recombinant nucleic acid codes for an enzyme permitting the transfer of one or more alkyl groups to the double bond(s) of the unsaturated fatty acids.  
     
     
         6 . Process according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the recombinant nucleic acid codes for a methyl transferase.  
     
     
         7 . Process according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the recombinant nucleic acid codes for a cyclopropane fatty acid synthase.  
     
     
         8 . Process according to one of the  claims 4  to  7 , characterized in that the plant cell comprises in addition a recombinant nucleic acid coding for SAM synthetase.  
     
     
         9 . Process according to one of the  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the recombinant nucleic acid codes for an enzyme which forces said plant cell to use a substrate comprising more than 3 carbon atoms for the synthesis of the aliphatic chain.  
     
     
         10 . Process according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the recombinant nucleic acid codes for an enzyme capable of forcing the plant to use a non-linear acyl-CoA, such as in particular methylmalonyl CoA.  
     
     
         11 . Process according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the recombinant nucleic acid codes for a malonyl CoA decarboxylase.  
     
     
         12 . Recombinant nucleic acid characterized in that it comprises: 
 a nucleic acid coding for a product which induces or stimulates the synthesis of branched fatty acid(s),    a promoter regulating the expression of said nucleic acid and capable of causing the localized expression of this nucleic acid in certain plant tissues or certain plant parts, and,    a 3′ transcription termination region.    
     
     
         13 . Nucleic acid according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the promoter is a promoter capable of causing localized expression of the nucleic acid in the seed of a plant.  
     
     
         14 . Recombinant nucleic acid comprising: 
 a nucleic acid coding for a methyl transferase capable of catalyzing the transfer of a methyl group to an aliphatic chain of an unsaturated fatty acid,    a functional promoter in the plant cells regulating the expression of said nucleic acid, and    a 3′ transcription termination region.    
     
     
         15 . Recombinant nucleic acid comprising: 
 a nucleic acid coding for an enzyme which forces a plant cell to use a substrate comprising more than 3 carbon atoms as substrate for the synthesis of the aliphatic chain, in particular for a malonyl CoA decarboxylase,    a functional promoter in the plant cells regulating the expression of said nucleic acid, and    a 3′ transcription termination region.    
     
     
         16 . Recombinant nucleic acid according to any one of the  claims 12  to  15 , characterized in that its sequence comprises in addition a nucleic acid coding for the SAM synthetase.  
     
     
         17 . Vector comprising a recombinant nucleic acid according to any one of the  claims 12  to  16 .  
     
     
         18 . Plant cell comprising a recombinant nucleic acid such as defined in one of the  claims 12  to  16  or a vector according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         19 . Plant cell according to  claim 18 , characterized in that it is an oleaginous plant cell, preferably selected from colza, sunflower, peanut, soya, flax and maize.  
     
     
         20 . Transgenic plant characterized in that it contains at least one cell according to  claim 18  or  19 .  
     
     
         21 . Transgenic plant characterized in that it contains in at least one part at least of its cells, a nucleic acid according to the  claims 12  to  16  or a vector according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         22 . Production process for branched fatty acids by cell culture of a plant cell according to either of the claims  18  or  19  comprising: 
 the culture of these cells in a medium suitable for their growth,  
 the extraction and purification of the branched fatty acids from the cells or from the supernatant of said culture.  
 
     
     
         23 . Preparation process for branched fatty acids from a transgenic plant whose cells contain a recombinant nucleic acid according to any one of the  claims 12  to  16 , characterized in that it comprises: 
 the field culture of said transgenic plants;  
 the recovery of the seeds of said plants;  
 the extraction of the fatty acids from these seeds.  
 
     
     
         24 . Use of a transgenic plant according to  claim 20  or  21 , regenerated from a cell according to either of the claims  18  or  19 , for the production of branched fatty acids.  
     
     
         25 . Use of the whole or part of a transgenic plant, at least some of the cells of which contain a recombinant nucleic acid according to  claim 12  for the production of branched fatty acids.  
     
     
         26 . Branched fatty acids which can be obtained by the process of any one of the  claims 1  to  11 ,  22  or  24 .  
     
     
         27 . Composition containing branched fatty acids obtained by the process of any one of the  claims 1  to  11 ,  22  or  24 .  
     
     
         28 . Use of a branched fatty acid ester which can be obtained by the process of any one of the  claims 1  to  11 ,  22  or  23  for the preparation of a lubricant composition.  
     
     
         29 . Preparation process of a transgenic plant capable of producing branched fatty acids, comprising the introduction of a recombinant nucleic acid such as defined in  claim 12  into a plant cell or part of a plant and the regeneration of a transgenic plant from these plant cells or parts of plants.