The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desaturase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The present application relates to methods to improve biomass or lipid production in a microorganism from one or more fatty acid and one or more simple carbon co-substrates. Produced lipids may include unsaturated C.sub.6-C.sub.24 fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as final products or precursors to insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms modified for improved production of biomass or lipid, or improved lipid selectivity. Also provided are methods of producing one or more lipid using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product lipid.

The present invention is directed to isolated microorganisms as well as strains and mutants thereof, biomasses, microbial oils, compositions, and cultures; methods of producing the microbial oils, biomasses, and mutants; and methods of using the isolated microorganisms, biomasses, and microbial oils.

The present invention relates to polynucleotides from Ostreococcus lucimarinus which code for desaturases and elongases and which can be employed for the recombinant production of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to vectors, host cells and transgenic nonhuman organisms which comprise the polynucleotides, and to the polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides. Finally, the invention also relates to production processes for the polyunsaturated fatty acids and for oil, lipid and fatty acid compositions.

The invention provides recombinant host organisms (e.g., plants) genetically modified with a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthase system and one or more accessory proteins (e.g., PPTase and/or ACoAS) that allow for and/or improve the production of PUFAs in the host organism. The present invention also relates to methods of making and using such organisms (e.g., to obtain PUFAs) as well as products obtained from such organisms (e.g., oil and/or seed).

The present specification describes a culture of a microorganism, which comprises an increased content of oleic acid, or a microbial oil comprising the same. In addition, the present specification describes a method for producing oleic acid and lipids comprising the same by culturing a microorganism. Since the present disclosure enables the production of lipids comprising oleic acid at a high concentration without genetic manipulation of a lipid-producing microorganism, it may be utilized in various industrial fields requiring oleic acid, such as foods, cosmetic materials, biofuels, etc.

A method for producing a hydroxy fatty acid condensate or a mixture of hydroxy fatty acid condensates is provided. The method involves the steps of providing one or more fatty acids having at least one C═C double bond functionality, biotechnologically adding H.sub.2O to at least one C═C double bond functionality of the one or more fatty acids and thus obtaining one or more hydroxy fatty acids, and reacting the one or more hydroxy fatty acids with one or more at least divalent linker groups, thus obtaining a hydroxy fatty acid condensate or a mixture of hydroxy fatty acid condensates. Also provided are a hydroxy fatty acid condensate or a mixture of hydroxy fatty acid condensates obtained by the method, as well as polyurethane, obtained by reacting such a hydroxy fatty acid condensate or mixture of hydroxy fatty acid condensates.

Provided herein are methods of recovering oil from microorganisms. The methods are useful, for example, in obtaining nutritional oils and/or lipid biofuels. The methods of recovering oil described herein include contacting a population of microorganisms with one or more enzymes under conditions that cause disruption of the microorganisms, concentrating the disrupted microorganisms, and extracting lipids from the disrupted microorganisms at high temperature in the presence of a salt and in the absence of solvent.

Provided herein are methods of recovering oil from microorganisms. The methods are useful, for example, in obtaining nutritional oils and/or lipid biofuels. The methods of recovering oil described herein include contacting a population of microorganisms with one or more enzymes under conditions that cause disruption of the microorganisms, concentrating the disrupted microorganisms, and extracting lipids from the disrupted microorganisms at high temperature in the presence of a salt and in the absence of solvent.

Provided is an enzyme useful for prenylation and recombinant pathways for the production of cannabinoids, cannabinoid precursors and other prenylated chemicals in a cell free system as well and recombinant microorganisms that catalyze the reactions.