TRIERUCOYLGLYCEROL BIOSYNTHESIS IN TRANSGENIC PLANTS OF RAPESEED (BRASSICA-NAPUS L)

The erucoyl-CoA specific sn-1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (LPAAT) of Limnanthes douglasii was functionally expressed in develop ing seeds of differing high-erucic acid rapeseed genotypes, namely res ynthesized lines and cultivars. Lipid analysis revealed that seed oil of transgenic plants in contrast to that of control plants contained t rierucoylglycerol as well as a molecular species with two erucoyl grou ps and one eicosenoyl group. The proportion of trierucoylglycerol was distinctly higher in the seeds from transgenic resynthesized plants th an in those from transgenic cultivars. In pooled seed oil fractions, u p to 9% trierucoylglycerol (trierucin) was determined and the fatty ac id composition at the sn-2 position was found to consist of more than 40% erucic acid. Since the pooled seeds were segregating for the prese nce of the L. douglasii gene, the analysis of single seeds gave even h igher levels of up to 13% trierucin.