Production of arachidonic acid in oilseed plants

Abstract

Oilseed plants which have been transformed to produce arachidonic acid, recombinant constructs used in such transformations, methods for producing arachidonic acid in a plant are described and uses of oils and seeds obtained from such transformed plants in a variety of food and feed applications are described.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . Oil obtained from seeds obtained from a transgenic oilseed plant comprising:
 (a) a first recombinant construct comprising at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding at least one delta-8 desaturase polypeptide;   (b) a second recombinant construct comprising at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding at least one delta-9 elongase polypeptide;   (c) a third recombinant construct comprising at least one regulatory sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding at least one delta-5 desaturase polypeptide; and   (d) decrease delta-15 desaturase activity relative to a wild-type or non-transformed plant;   
       wherein the transgenic oilseed plant produces mature seeds in which the total seed fatty acid profile comprises at least 10.0% arachidonic acid and less than 5% total omega-3 fatty acids having at least eighteen carbon atoms and at least four double bonds. 
     
     
         6 . A food product or food analog which has incorporated therein the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         7 . A medical food product or medical food analog which has incorporated therein the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         8 . A pharmaceutical product which has incorporated therein the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         9 . The food product of  claim 6  wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of a spray-dried food particle, a freeze-dried food particle, meat products, a cereal food, a snack food, a baked good, an extruded food, a fried food, a health food, a dairy food, meat analogs, cheese analogs, milk analogs, a pet food, animal feed or aquaculture feed. 
     
     
         10 . A beverage which has incorporated therein the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         11 . Infant formula which has incorporated therein the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         12 . A nutritional supplement which has incorporated therein the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A pet food which has incorporated therein the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . Aquafeed which has incorporated therein the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . Animal feed which has incorporated therein the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A blended oil product comprising the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         21 . Products made from the hydrogenation, fractionation, interesterification or hydrolysis of the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         22 . By-products made during the production of the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         23 . Partially processed by-products made during the production of the oil of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         24 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The oil of  claim 5 , wherein the total seed fatty acid profile comprises less than 1% total omega-3 fatty acids having at least eighteen carbon atoms and at least four double bonds. 
     
     
         48 . The oil of  claim 5 , wherein the decrease of delta-15 desaturase activity is accomplished by introduction of a recombinant construct comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding at least one fad3 or fad3c polynucleotide fragment operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence. 
     
     
         49 . The oil of  claim 48 , wherein the isolated polynucleotide encodes at least one fad3 or fad3c polynucleotide fragment that encodes a hairpin structure. 
     
     
         50 . The oil of  claim 5 , wherein the decrease in delta-15 desaturase activity is accomplished by at least one mutation in an endogenous delta-15 desaturase gene.