Award details

Analysis and manipulation of the protein and oil compositions of oilseeds

Reference	BBS/E/C/00823258
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Peter Shewry
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	109,255
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1999
Duration	24 months

Abstract

The quality of oilseeds in determined by the amount and composition of the triacylglycerol storage reserves, and there is a requirement for the development of temperate oilcrops with specific triacylglycerol compositions for various dietary, industrial and pharmaceutical uses. Biochemical and molecular studies of mechanisms of fatty acid synthesis and triacylglycerol assembly aim to understand and manipulate the triacylglycerol compositions of oilseed rape and sunflower for specific applications. They include the cloning of cDNAs and genes for key enzymes (cytochrome b5 and delta 6 fatty acid desaturase) and their expression in transgenic plants in order to determine the effect on the amount and composition of triacylglycerols. In addition, studies of the storage 2S albumins and oleosins of sunflower and other species aim to determine the structures and interactions of these proteins using a combination of structure analysis by x-ray cryptallography and nmr spectroscopy and protein engineering. The interactions of their proteins with lipids are also being studied in relation to the development of novel protein emulsifiers for the food and other industries. Objectives 1996 Complete characterization of 2S albumins of sunflower and write up. Continue detailed characterization of SFA8. Complete analyses of cDNAs for the delta-6 desaturase from borage and the cytochrome b5 gene from tobacco. Continue analysis of transgenic tobacco plants with up- and down- regulated expression of cytochrome b5. Initiate new work on the structures of sunflower oleosins and their role in oil body structure and biogenesis. 1997 Carry out functional analyses of cytochrome b5-desaturase fusion proteins from other systems using a yeast expresion system. Analyse folding and unfolding kinetics of a phospholipid transfer protein from sunflower

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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