Abstract: Low calorie food compositions containing fat-type organoleptic and non-fat ingredients, wherein natural fats and synthetic fat mimetics are blended in proportion to provide any predetermined amount of fat caloric value. These synthetic fat-type mimetic ingredients comprise esterified epoxide-extended polyols (EEEPs) of the formula P(OH).sub.a+c (EPO).sub.n (FE).sub.b where P is a polyol having a=2 to 8 primary hydroxyls, C=0-8 secondary and tertiary hydroxyls, a+c is in the range of 3-8, EPO is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 epoxide, FE is a fatty acid acyl moiety, n is the minimum epoxylation index average number having a value generally equal to or greater than "a" and is a number sufficient that greater than 95% of the primary hydroxyls of the polyol are converted to secondary or tertiary hydroxyls, and "b" is greater than 2 and equal to or less than a+c.

Abstract: Low calorie food compositions containing fat-type organoleptic ingredients and non-fat ingredients, wherein natural fats and synthetic fat mimetics are blended in proportion to provide any predetermined amount of fat caloric value, said synthetic fat-type mimetic ingredients comprising esterified epoxide-extended polyols (EEEPs) of the formula P(OH).sub.a+c (EPO).sub.n (FE).sub.b where P is a polyol having a=2-8 primary hydroxyls, c=0-8 secondary and tertiary hydroxyls, a+c is in the range of 3-8, EPO is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 epoxide, FE is a fatty acid acyl moiety, n is the minimum epoxylation index average number having a value generally equal to or greater than a and is a number sufficient that greater than 95% of the primary hydroxyls of the polyol are converted to secondary or tertiary hydroxyls, and 2<b.ltoreq.a+c.

Abstract: By this invention, a solubilized seed-plant fatty acyl reductase protein is provided, wherein said protein is active in the formation of a fatty alcohol from a fatty acyl substrate. Of special interest is a jojoba embryo reductase protein having a molecular mass of about 32 kD or about 47 kD and sequences obtainable therefrom. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from such fatty acyl reductases.

Abstract: By this invention, a partially purified seed-plant fatty acyl reductase protein is provided, wherein said protein is active in the formation of a fatty alcohol from a fatty acyl substrate. Of special interest are jojoba embryo reductase proteins having molecular mass of about 54 and 52 kD and sequences obtainable therefrom. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from such fatty acyl reductases, which sequences may be used for preparation of recombinant constructs useful for expression of reductase in host cells, which results in the production of fatty alcohols in said cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel class of plant enzymes, thioesterases having preferential hydrolase activity toward one or more medium-chain acyl-ACP substrates. Purification, especially the removal of substantially all other plant proteins, and use of the plant thioesterase is provided, including the use of the protein as a tool in gene isolation for biotechnological applications and a description of various uses for such nucleic acid sequences thereto. The enzyme is preferrably obtained from Umbellularia californica and has preferential hydrolase activity toward C12 acyl-ACP substrate.

Abstract: Low calorie food compositions containing fat-type organoleptic ingredients and non-fat ingredients, wherein natural fats and synthetic fat mimetics are blended in proportion to provide any predetermined amount of fat caloric value, said synthetic fat-type mimetic ingredients comprising esterified epoxide-extended polyols (EEEPs) of the formula P(OH).sub.a+c (EPO).sub.n (FE).sub.b where P is a polyol having a=2-8 primary hydroxyls, c=0-8 secondary and tertiary hydroxyls, a+c is in the range of 3-8, EPO is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 epoxide, FE is a fatty acid acyl moiety, n is the minimum epoxylation index average number having a value generally equal to or greater than a and is a number sufficient that greater than 95% of the primary hydroxyls of the polyol are converted to secondary or tertiary hydroxyls, and 2<b.ltoreq.a+c.