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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308304
Title: A vernonia diacylglycerol acyltransferase can increase renewable oil production

Author
item HATANAKA, TOMOKO - Kobe University
item SERSON, WILLIAM - University Of Kentucky
item LI, RUNZHI - Shanxi University
item Armstrong, Paul
item YU, KESHUN - University Of Kentucky
item PFEIFFER, TODD - University Of Kentucky
item LI, XI-LE - University Of Kentucky
item HILDEBRAND, DAVID - University Of Kentucky

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2016
Publication Date: 9/28/2016
Citation: Hatanaka, T., Serson, W., Li, R., Armstrong, P.R., Yu, K., Pfeiffer, T., Li, X., Hildebrand, D. 2016. A vernonia diacylglycerol acyltransferase can increase renewable oil production. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 64(38):7188-7194. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b02498.

Interpretive Summary: Increasing the production of plant oils such as soybean oil, a critical renewable resource for food and fuel, will be highly valuable. Successful breeding for higher oil levels in soybean, however, usually results in reduced protein, a second valuable seed component. Our studies have shown that by changing the expression of the highly active enzyme acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), oil in oilseeds can be increased without reducing the protein component. Specifically, a DGAT from Vernonia galamensis, “Ironweed” produces much higher oil levels in yeast, insect cells and soybean. Soybean lines show a 4% increase in oil content without reductions in seed protein contents or yield per unit land area. Incorporation of this trait into 50% of soybean worldwide could result in an increase of 850 million kg of oil/year without new land use or inputs and be worth ~ $1 billion/year at 2012 production and market prices.

Technical Abstract: Increasing the production of plant oils such as soybean oil, a critical renewable resource for food and fuel, will be highly valuable. Successful breeding for higher oil levels in soybean, however, usually results in reduced protein, a second valuable seed component. We show that by manipulating a highly active acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) the hydrocarbon flux to oil in oilseeds can be increased without reducing the protein component. Compared to other DGATs a DGAT from Vernonia galamensis (VgDGAT1A) produces much higher oil synthesis and accumulation activity in yeast, insect cells and soybean. Soybean lines expressing VgDGAT1A show a 4% increase in oil content without reductions in seed protein contents or yield per unit land area. Incorporation of this trait into 50% of soybean worldwide could result in an increase of 850 million kg oil/year without new land use or inputs and be worth ~ $1 billion/year at 2012 production and market prices.