Abstract: By this invention, compositions and methods of use related to &bgr;-ketoacyl-ACP synthases. Of special interest are synthases obtainable from Cuphea species. Amino acid and nucleic acid for synthase protein factors are provided, as well as methods to utilize such sequences in constructs for production of genetically engineered plants having altered fatty acid compositions. Of particular interest is the expression of synthase protein factors in conjunction with expression of plant medium-chain acyl-ACP thioesterases for production of increased levels and/or modified ratios of medium-chain fatty acids in oils of transgenic plant seeds.

Abstract: By this invention, methods to produce oleic fatty acids in plant seed oils are provided. The methods of the present invention generally involve the suppression of a host plant cells endogenous &bgr;-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I protein. Also described in the instant invention are the plants, cells and oils obtained therefrom.

Abstract: The invention provides novel polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation and to methods of producing such polypeptides using recombinannt techniques. In addition, methods are provided for using such sequences to alter lipid levels in plants by altering fatty acid beat-oxidation in host plant cells.

Abstract: Novel nucleic acid sequences encoding plastid transit peptides are provided. The plastid transit peptide is capable of translocating a protein operably linked to the transit peptide, to a plant cell plastid. Also considered are arnino acid and nucleic acid sequences of the plastid transit peptides of the invention and the use of such sequences to produce DNA constructs. Provided are methods for the increased translocation of proteins to a plant cell plastid using the nucleic acid sequences of the present invention.

Abstract: By this invention, methods to produce oleic fatty acids in plant seed oils are provided. The methods of the present invention generally involve the suppression of a host plant cells endogenous &bgr;-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I protein. Also described in the instant invention are the plants, cells and oils obtained therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to sequences encoding &bgr;-ketoacyl-ACP synthase (KAS) and methods of use thereof. Also provided are methods for decreasing saturated fatty acid levels as a component of total triglycerides found in plant oils. The method generally comprises growing a soybean plant having integrated into its genome a DNA construct comprising, in the 5′ to 3′ direction of transcription, a promoter functional in a soybean plant seed cell, a DNA sequence encoding a KAS protein, and a transcription termination region functional in a plant cell. The present invention also provides a soybean seed with less than about 3.5 weight percent total saturated fatty acids.

Abstract: Methods of altering substrate specificity of plant acyl-ACP thioesterases, and engineered plant acyl-ACP thioesterases so produced are provided. The C-terminal two thirds portion of plant thioesterases is identified as desirable for such modifications. DNA sequences and constructs for expression of engineered thioesterases, as well as the novel thioesterases produced therefrom are also provided. Such DNA sequences may be used for expression of the engineered thioesterases in host cells, particularly seed cells of oilseed crop plants, for the modification of fatty acid composition. A C12 preferring plant acyl-ACP thioesterase described herein may be altered to obtain a plant thioesterase having approximately equal activity on C14 and C12 substrates. Further modification of the C12 enzyme yields a thioesterase having greater activity on C14 as compared to C12 substrates.

Abstract: By this invention, methods to produce C14 fatty acids in plant seed oils are provided. In a first embodiment, this invention relates to particular C14 preferring acyl-ACP thioesterase sequences from Cuphea palustris, camphor and nutmeg, and to DNA constructs for the expression of these thioesterases in host cells for production of C14 fatty acids. Other aspects of this invention relate to methods for using other plant medium-chain thioesterases or medium-chain thioesterases from non-plant sources to provide C14 fatty acids in plant cells. In this regard, the production of C14 fatty acids in plant cells as the result of expression from an elm medium chain acyl-ACP thioesterase and a bacterial luxD gene is provided.