Table 1 A list of genetic modifications to higher plants and their resulting changes in fatty acid content

Expression of a cytosolic variant of endogenous ACCase

Brassica napus

5% increase in seed oil content

[40]

Expression of KASIII from Spinacia oleracea

Brassica napus

Increased palmitic acid proportion, decreased total fatty acids 5-10%

[41]

Saccharomyces cerevisiae G3p dehydrogenase (gpd1)expression

Brassica napus

40% increase in seed oil content

[43]

Carthamus tinctorius G3p acyltransferase (GPAT) expression

Arabidopsis thaliana

10-21% increase in seed oil content

[45]

Saccharomyces cerevisiae sn-2 acyltransferase (SLC1-1) expression

Brassica napus

53-121% increase in erucic acid content

[47]

Arabidopsis thaliana diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) expression

Brassica napus

Increases in oil content and seed weight

[48]

Down regulation of FAD2 desaturase and FatB hydrolase

Glycine max

85% increase in oleic acid levels

[53–55]

Expression of Coriandrum sativum Δ4palmitoyl ACP desaturase

Nicotiana tabacum

< 10% of total fatty acid became palmitoleic acid

[56]

Expression of Thunbergia alata Δ6 ACP desaturase

Arabidopsis thaliana

< 10% of total fatty acid became palmitoleic acid

[57]

Expression of Umbellularia californica lauryl-ACP thioesterase

Arabidopsis thaliana

24% of total fatty acid converted to laurate

[66]

Expression of Umbellularia californica lauryl-ACP thioesterase

Brassica napus

58% of total fatty acid converted to laurate

[67]

Expression of Cuphea hookeriana FatB1 thioesterase

Brassica napus

Fatty acid content changed to 11% caprylate and 27% caprate

[68]

Co-expression of Cuphea hookeriana FatB1 thioesterase and KAS (ketoacyl ACP synthase)

Brassica napus

30-40% increase in short chain fatty acid content over FatB1 expression only

[69]

Co-expression of Cuphea hookeriana FatB1 thioesterase and LPAAT from Cocos nucifera

Brassica napus

67% of total fatty acid content converted to laurate

[70]