Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids which encode polypeptides with ?5-elongase activity. Advantageously, these nucleic acids can be expressed in the organism together with further nucleic acids which encode polypeptides of the biosynthesis of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism. Especially advantageous are nucleic acids which encode ?6-desaturases, ?5-desaturases, ?4-desaturases and/or ?6-elongases. These desaturases and elongases are advantageously derived from Thalassiosira, Euglena or Ostreococcus. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and oils and/or triacylglycerides thus obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of multiply-unsaturated fatty acids in an organism, into which nucleic acids have been introduced, which code for polypeptides with ?-5 elongase activity. Said nucleic acid sequences, optionally with further nucleic acid sequences, coding for polypeptides for the biosynthesis of fatty acids and lipid metabolism, are advantageously expressed in the organism. Nucleic acid sequences coding for a ?-6 desaturase, a ?-5 desaturase, ?-4 desaturase and/or ?-6 elongase activity are particularly advantageous and, advantageously, said saturases and elongases are derived from Thalassiosira, Euglena or Ostreococcus. The invention further relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an increased content of long-chain, multiply-unsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the specific preparation of unsaturated ?-3 fatty acids, and to a process for preparing triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly of ?-3 fatty acids having more than three double bonds. The invention relates to the preparation of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism, having increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids having ?-4 double bonds owing to the expression of a ?-4-desaturase from Euglena gracilis. The invention additionally relates to expression cassettes comprising a nucleic acid sequence, a vector and organisms comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence or one expression cassette. The invention additionally relates to unsaturated fatty acids and to triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and to the use thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of multiply-unsaturated fatty acids in an organism, into which nucleic acids have been introduced, which code for polypeptides with ?-5 elongase activity. Said nucleic acid sequences, optionally with further nucleic acid sequences, coding for polypeptides for the biosynthesis of fatty acids and lipid metabolism, are advantageously expressed in the organism. Nucleic acid sequences coding for a ?-6 desaturase, a ?-5 desaturase, ?-4 desaturase and/or ?-6 elongase activity are particularly advantageous and, advantageously, said saturases and elongases are derived from Thalassiosira, Euglena or Ostreococcus. The invention further relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an increased content of long-chain, multiply-unsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the specific preparation of unsaturated ?-3 fatty acids, and to a process for preparing triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly of ?-3 fatty acids having more than three double bonds. The invention relates to the preparation of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism, having increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids having ?-4 double bonds owing to the expression of a ?-4-desaturase from Euglena gracilis. The invention additionally relates to expression cassettes comprising a nucleic acid sequence, a vector and organisms comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence or one expression cassette. The invention additionally relates to unsaturated fatty acids and to triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and to the use thereof.