Patent ID: 8241884
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: C12N,C12P

Abstract:
1. An isolated nucleic acid fragment comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a delta-17 desaturase polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:97 and three His Box motifs set forth as H(X) 3 H (SEQ ID NO:99), H(X) 2 HH (SEQ ID NO:100) and H/Q(X) 2 HH (SEQ ID NO:101); wherein: (i) the delta-17 desaturase polypeptide does not have anmino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (ii) the delta-17 desaturase polypeptide is capable of converting a polyunsaturated fatty acid substrate, selected from the group consisting of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid, to a polyunsaturated fatty acid product, wherein the dihomo-γ-linolenic acid is converted to eicosatetraenoic acid and the arachidonic acid is converted to eicosapentaenoic acid; and further wherein said isolated nucleic acid fragment comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a delta-17 desaturase polypeptide is obtained by a method comprising: a) identifying a desaturase polypeptide comprising the His Box motifs set forth as H(X) b) confirming the presence of SEQ ID NO:97 in the desaturase polypeptide of step (a), wherein the presence of SEQ ID NO:97 is indicative of delta-17 desaturase activity.