Methods and compositions for the production of dielectric fluids from lipids produced by 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 sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a lipid pathway modification enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a desaturase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing dielectric fluids.

Novel plant acyl-ACP thioesterase genes of the FatB and FatA classes and proteins encoded by these genes are disclosed. The genes are useful for constructing recombinant host cells having altered fatty acid profiles. Expression of the novel and/or mutated FATB and FATA genes is demonstrated in oleaginous microalga host cells. Furthermore, a method for producing an oil elevated in one or more of C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0 and/or C18:1 fatty acids includes transforming a cell with novel and/or mutated FATB and/or FATA genes, e.g., having an N-terminal deletion. The cells produce triglycerides with altered and useful fatty acid profiles.

Provided is a cyanobacterium improved in fatty acid productivity. A method for producing a modified cyanobacterium, comprising causing loss of function of a LexA transcriptional regulator and acyl-ACP synthetase in a cyanobacterium.

Methods and compositions for the production of dielectric fluids from lipids produced by 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 sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a lipid pathway modification enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a desaturase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing dielectric fluids.

[Problems] To provide a method of producing a lipid, containing enhancing productivity of medium chain fatty acids or the lipid containing these medium chain fatty acids as components. [Means to solve] A method of producing a lipid, containing the steps of: culturing a transformant in which a gene encoding any one of the following proteins (A) to (C) is introduced into a host, and collecting a lipid from the cultured product: (A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of the 91st to 348th positions set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; (B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 80% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the 91st to 348th positions set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and having acyl-ACP thioesterase activity; and (C) a protein containing the amino acid sequence of the protein (A) or (B), and having acyl-ACP thioesterase activity.

Disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing renewable chemicals through the manufacture of novel triglyceride oils followed by chemical modification of the oils. Methods such as transesterification, hydrogenation, hydrocracking, deoxygenation, isomerization, interesterification, hydroxylation, hydrolysis and saponification are disclosed. Novel oils containing fatty acid chain lengths of C8, C10, C12 or C14 are also disclosed and are useful as feedstocks in the methods of the invention.

The present invention relates to variant thioesterases and their use in plants, e.g., to increase enzymatic activity and to promote increased production of mid-chain length fatty acids (e.g., 8 to 14 carbons) and at desired ratios. Further disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing renewable chemicals through the manufacture of novel triglyceride oils followed by chemical modification of the oils. Oils containing fatty acid chain lengths of C8, C10, C12 or C14 are also disclosed and are useful as feedstocks in the methods described herein.

The present invention relates to elite transgenic safflower events which produce high levels of oleic acid.

Methods to produce oils with modified profiles of fatty acid, carotenoids and/or terpenoids in microalgal mutants are provided. Microalgal mutants produce the oil containing fatty acids, carotenoids and/or terpenoids of a modified profile with a disruption or ablation of one or more alleles of an endogenous polynucleotide or comprising an exogeneous gene are also provided.

Recombinant proteobacteria, including ?-proteobacteria, comprising a heterologous acyl-ACP desaturase and a heterologous acyl-ACP thioesterase, wherein the native dual 3-hydroxy acyl-ACP dehydratase/isomerase is deleted are provided herein. The recombinant proteobacteria produce non-native monounsaturated free fatty acids or derivatives thereof. Methods of producing non-native monounsaturated free fatty acids or derivatives thereof are also provided, in addition to cell cultures and fatty acid compositions produced by the recombinant proteobacteria. The recombinant proteobacteria may be used to produce insect pheromones or precursors thereof, and fragrances or precursors thereof.