Compositions and methods include genetically encoding and expressing a novel .sup.9-18:0-ACP desaturase in plant cells. In some embodiments, nucleic acid molecules encode the novel .sup.9-18:0-ACP desaturase. In other embodiments, amino acid sequences have .sup.9-18:0-ACP desaturase activity. Methods can involve expression of .sup.9-18:0-ACP desaturase in plant cells, plant materials, and whole plants for the purpose of increasing the amount of unusual fatty acids in whole plants, plant seeds, and plant materials, for example, seeds.

The subject invention provides no sat canola oil. The subject invention also provides seeds that can be used to produce such oils. Plants that produce these seeds are also included within the subject invention. All of this was surprisingly achieved by using a delta-9 desaturase gene in canola. This technology can be applied to other plants as disclosed herein. Oils of the subject invention have particularly advantageous characteristics and fatty acid profiles, which were not heretofore attained. The subject invention still further provides a plant-optimized delta-9 desaturase gene. The subject invention still further provides a plant-optimized delta-9 desaturase gene. In some preferred embodiments, a preferred plant comprises at least two copies of a delta-9 desaturase gene of the subject invention. Seeds produced by such plants surprisingly do not exhibit effects of gene silencing but rather have further surprising reductions in levels of total saturates.

Some aspects of this invention provide engineered microbes for oil production. Methods for microbe engineering and for use of engineered microbes are also provided herein. In some embodiments, microbes are provided that are engineered to modulate a combination of rate-controlling steps of lipid synthesis, for example, a combination of a step generating metabolites, acetyl-CoA, ATP or NADPH for lipid synthesis (a push step), and a step sequestering a product or an intermediate of a lipid synthesis pathway that mediates feedback inhibition of lipid synthesis (a pull step). Such push-and-pull engineered microbes exhibit greatly enhanced conversion yields and TAG synthesis and storage properties.

Provided herein are genetically modified yeast cells that recombinantly express a gene encoding a fatty acid hydroxylase (FAH) enzyme, such as an oleate 12-hydroylase, and produce y-decalactone levels above an odor-threshold. Also provided herein are genetically modified yeast cells that recombinantly express genes encoding a fatty acid hydroxylase (FAH) enzyme, and one or more additional genes, such as an acyl-CoA desaturase 1 (OLE1) enzyme, a deregulated transcription factor, and/or an alcohol-O-acyltransferase (AAT) enzyme. Also provided are methods of producing fermented beverages and compositions comprising ethanol using the genetically modified yeast cells described herein.

The present invention relates to the field of fungal biotechnology, more particularly to genetic engineering methods for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in fungal hosts selected from Rhodosporidium and Rhodotorula genera. The present invention further relates to a modified fungal host cell having reduced native aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALD 1) enzyme activity, and methods for producing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and triacylglycerides, by growing said fungal host cell under suitable conditions.

Disclosed are nucleotide sequences and corresponding amino acid sequences of Arxula adeninivorans genes that can be utilized to manipulate the lipid content and/or composition of a cell. Methods and compositions for utilizing this information are disclosed to increase the lipid content or modify the lipid composition of a cell by either increasing or decreasing the activity of certain genetic targets.

Methods and compositions for the production of oil, fuels, oleochemicals, and other compounds in recombinant microorganisms are provided, including oil-bearing microorganisms and methods of low cost cultivation of such microorganisms. Microalgal cells containing exogenous genes encoding, for example, a lipase, a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a keto acyl-ACP synthase enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, a fatty aldehyde reductase, a fatty aldehyde decarbonylase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing transportation fuels such as renewable diesel, biodiesel, and renewable jet fuel, as well as oleochemicals such as functional fluids, surfactants, soaps and lubricants.

Compositions and methods include genetically encoding and expressing a novel delta-9 desaturase in plant cells. In some embodiments, methods of expressing nucleic acids in a plant cell to take advantage of the delta-9 desaturase enzyme's activity, such that the percent composition of saturated fatty acids in plant seeds is decreased and there is a concomitant increase in 9 fatty acids. In other embodiments, amino acid sequences have delta-9 desaturase activity. Methods can involve expression of delta-9 desaturase in plant cells, plant materials, and whole plants for the purpose of increasing the amount of mono unsaturated fatty acids in whole plants, plant seeds, and plant materials, for example, seeds.

Compositions and methods include genetically encoding and expressing a novel delta-9 desaturase in plant cells. In some embodiments, methods of expressing nucleic acids in a plant cell to take advantage of the delta-9 desaturase enzyme's activity, such that the percent composition of saturated fatty acids in plant seeds is decreased and there is a concomitant increase in 9 fatty acids. In other embodiments, amino acid sequences have delta-9 desaturase activity. Methods can involve expression of delta-9 desaturase in plant cells, plant materials, and whole plants for the purpose of increasing the amount of mono unsaturated fatty acids in whole plants, plant seeds, and plant materials, for example, seeds.

Provided is an acid-tolerant yeast cell, a method of producing an organic acid by using the yeast cell, and a method of producing the yeast cell resistant to acid.