Towards the Biosynthetic Pathway of Lesquerolic Acid in Physaria fendleri, an Emerging Industrial Crop
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Date
2016-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Physaria fendleri (Lesquerella) is a Brassicaceae that produces the hydroxy fatty acid, lesquerolic acid. This invaluable compound has many industrial applications such as cosmetics, greases, plastics, and biofuels. In the United States, the main source of hydroxy fatty acids is ricinoleic acid, from the castor plant (Ricinus communis). Due to ricin, a highly toxic compound, the United States has banned commercial growth of this plant and the entirety of our supply must be imported. On the other hand, Physaria does not produce toxic compounds and lesquerolic acid is only two carbons longer than ricinoleic acid, resulting in the same chemical properties.
Physaria fendleri, as a noncompetitive winter annual, is a well suited substitute crop for castor. However, fatty acid production needs to be increased for it to be economically viable. In order to enhance hydroxy fatty acid production, the biosynthetic steps need to be identified, specifically the one at which the hydroxyl group is added. To tackle this question, chemical inhibitors that are specific to the enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis were utilized. Thiocarbamates have been shown to be effective inhibitors of fatty acid elongation, which takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this study, S-ethyl dipropylcarbamothioate (EPTC) and Diallate, both thiocarbamates, were tested to unravel whether the hydroxyl group was added to the fatty acid before or after elongation.
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Keywords
Lesquerella, Physaria fendleri, Hydroxy fatty acid, Elongases, Chemical Inhibition