Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing unsaturated fatty acids and to a process for preparing triglycerides with an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids. The invention further relates to the use of DNA sequences coding for ?6-acetylenase/?6-desaturases or ?6-desaturases for producing a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism with increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids with ?6 triple bonds and/or ?6 double bonds. The invention additionally relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence; to an expression cassette comprising a nucleic acid sequence, a vector and organisms comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence or expression cassette. The invention additionally relates to unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides with an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and the use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of an enzyme mixture containing at least one enzyme with phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity for the production of plant storage lipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a novel enzyme and its encoding gene for transformation. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of a gene encoding an enzyme with acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity. This gene expressed alone in transgenic organisms will increase the total amount of oil (i.e. triacylglycerols) that is produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a novel enzyme and its encoding gene for transformation. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of a gene encoding an enzyme with acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity. This gene expressed alone in transgenic organisms will increase the total amount of oil (i.e. triacylglycerols) that is produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of identifying herbicides and to the use of inhibitors of plant peptide deformylase as broad spectrum herbicides.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel genetic sequences that encode fatty acid epoxygenase enzymes, in particular fatty acid &Dgr;12-epoxygenase enzymes from plants that are mixed function monooxygenase enzymes. More particularly, the present invention exemplifies cDNA sequences from Crepis spp. and Vernonia galamensis that encode fatty acid &Dgr;12-epoxygenases. The genetic sequences of the present invention provide the means by which fatty acid metabolism may be altered or manipulated in organisms, such as, for example, yeasts, moulds, bacteria, insects, birds, mammals and plants, and more particularly in plants. The invention also extends to genetically modified oil-accumulating organisms transformed with the subject genetic sequences and to the oils derived therefrom. The oils thus produced provide the means for the cost-effective raw materials for use in the efficient production of coatings, resins, glues, plastics, surfactants and lubricants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel plant enzyme called delta 12 fatty acid acetylenase. This enzyme is responsible for the conversion of fatty acids to acetylenic acids and the invention relates to production of such acids. The invention also relates to use of cDNA encoding acetylenase, preferably Crepis alpina delta 12 acetylenase, for transforming organisms such as oil accumulating organisms selected from the group consisting of oil crops, oleogeneous yeasts and moulds. Furthermore, the invention relates to organisms such as oil accumulating organisms transformed with acetylenase cDNA, and to oils and other acetylenic compounds from said organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel genetic sequences which encode fatty acid epoxygenase enzymes. In particular, the present invention relates to genetic sequences which encode fatty acid &Dgr;12-epoxygenase enzymes comprising mixed function monooxygenase enzymes. More preferably, the present invention provides cDNA sequences which encode plant fatty acid epoxygenases, in particular the Crepis palaestina &Dgr;12-epoxygenase and homologues, analogues and derivatives thereof. The genetic sequences of the present invention provide the means by which fatty acid metabolism may be altered or manipulated in organisms such as yeasts, moulds, bacteria, insects, birds, mammals and plants, in particular to convert unsaturated fatty acids to epoxygenated fatty acids therein. The invention extends to genetically modified oil-accumulating organisms transformed with the subject genetic sequences and to the oils derived therefrom.