United States Patent Application: 0090269828

( 25 of 1336 )

United States Patent Application	20090269828
Kind Code	A1
YADAV; NARENDRA S. ; et al.	October 29, 2009

ACYLTRANSFERASES FOR ALTERATION OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS AND OIL CONTENT IN OLEAGINOUS YEASTS

Abstract

Two acyltransferases are provided, suitable for use in the manufacture of microbial oils enriched in omega fatty acids in oleaginous yeast (e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica). Specifically, the genes encoding phophatidylcholine-diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT2) have been isolated from Y. lipolytica. These genes encode enzymes that participate in the terminal step in oil biosynthesis in yeast. Each is expected to play a key role in altering the quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids produced in oils of oleaginous yeasts.

Inventors:	YADAV; NARENDRA S.; (WILMINGTON, DE) ; ZHANG; HONGXIANG; (CHADDS FORD, PA)
Correspondence Name and Address:	E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY;LEGAL PATENT RECORDS CENTER BARLEY MILL PLAZA 25/1122B, 4417 LANCASTER PIKE WILMINGTON DE 19805 US
Assignee Name and Adress:	E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY WILMINGTON DE
Serial No.:	401650
Series Code:	12
Filed:	March 11, 2009

U.S. Current Class: 435/193; 435/134; 435/252.3; 435/254.11; 435/254.2; 435/254.22; 435/257.2; 536/23.2

U.S. Class at Publication: 435/193; 435/134; 435/252.3; 435/254.11; 435/254.2; 435/254.22; 435/257.2; 536/23.2

Intern'l Class: C12N 9/10 20060101 C12N009/10; C12P 7/64 20060101 C12P007/64; C12N 1/21 20060101 C12N001/21; C12N 1/19 20060101 C12N001/19; C12N 1/12 20060101 C12N001/12; C12N 15/11 20060101 C12N015/11

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme, selected from the group consisting of:(a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:46;(b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes with (a) under the following hybridization conditions: 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS, 65.degree. C. and washed with 2.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS;(c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that is completely complementary to (a) or (b); and(d) An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a first nucleotide sequence encoding a phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme of at least 648 amino acids that has at least 70% identity based on the Clustal W method of alignment when compared to a polypeptide having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:46 or a second nucleotide sequence comprising the complement of the first nucleotide sequence.

3. (canceled)

4. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 2 having the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO 45.

5. (canceled)

6. A polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 2.

7-9. (canceled)

10. A chimeric gene comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 2 operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences.

11. A transformed host cell comprising the chimeric gene of claim 10.

12. The transformed host cell of claim 11, selected from the group consisting of algae, bacteria, molds, fungi and yeasts.

13. The transformed host cell of claim 12, wherein the yeast is an oleaginous yeast.

14. The transformed host cell of claim 13, wherein the oleaginous yeast cell is selected from the group consisting of Yarrowia, Candida, Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Lipomyces.

15. The transformed host cell of claim 14, wherein the host cell is Yarrowia lipolytica.

16. (canceled)

17. A method of increasing triacylglycerol content in a transformed host cell comprising:(a) providing a transformed host cell comprising:(i) at least one gene encoding an acyltransferase enzyme having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:46 under the control of suitable regulatory sequences; and(ii) a source of fatty acids;(b) growing the cell of step (a) under conditions whereby the at least one gene encoding an acyltransferase enzyme is expressed, resulting in the transfer of the fatty acids to triacylglycerol; and(c) optionally recovering the triacylglycerol of step (b).

18. The method according to claim 17,wherein growing the cell of step (a) under conditions whereby the genes of (i) and (ii) are expressed results in the production of at least one .omega.-3 or .omega.-6 fatty acid and its transfer to triacylglycerol.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the at least one gene encoding at least one enzyme of the .omega.-3/.omega.-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway is selected from the group consisting of desaturases and elongases.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the desaturase is selected from the group consisting of: .DELTA.9 desaturase, .DELTA.12 desaturase, .DELTA.6 desaturase, .DELTA.5 desaturase, .DELTA.17 desaturase, a .DELTA.8 desaturase, .DELTA.15 desaturase and .DELTA.4 desaturase.

21. A The method according to claim 17, wherein the host cell is selected from the group consisting of algae, bacteria, molds, fungi and yeasts.

22. A The method according to claim 21, wherein the host cell is an oleaginous yeast.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the oleaginous yeast is a member of a genus selected from the group of consisting of Yarrowia, Candida, Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Lipomyces.

24. A The method according to claim 23, wherein the oleaginous yeast is Yarrowia lipolytica.

25. (canceled)

26. The method according to claim 17 wherein the fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of: stearate, oleic acid, linoleic acid, .gamma.-linoleic acid, dihomo-.gamma.-linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, .alpha.-linoleic acid, steraidonic acid, eicosatetraenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid docosapentaenoic acid, eicosadienoic acid and eicosatrienoic acid.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/484,599, filed Jul. 2, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002]This invention is in the field of biotechnology. More specifically, this invention pertains to the identification of nucleic acid fragments encoding phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase. These enzymes are useful for altering the quantity of oil in oleaginous microorganisms, such as oleaginous yeasts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003]The present invention is directed toward the development of an oleaginous yeast that accumulates oils enriched in long-chain .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids ("PUFAs"; e.g., 18:3, 18:4, 20:3, 20:4, 20:5, 22:6 fatty acids). Thus, in addition to developing techniques to introduce the appropriate fatty acid desaturases and elongases into these particular host organisms (where naturally produced PUFAs are usually limited to production of 18:2 fatty acids [and less commonly, 18:3 fatty acids]), it is also necessary to increase the transfer of PUFAs into storage lipid pools following their synthesis.

[0004]Most free fatty acids become esterified to coenzyme A (CoA), to yield acyl-CoAs. These molecules are then substrates for glycerolipid synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell, where phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol (DAG) are produced. Either of these metabolic intermediates may be directed to membrane phospholipids (e.g., phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine) or DAG may be directed to form triacylglycerols (TAGs), the primary storage reserve of lipids in eukaryotic cells.

[0005]In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, three pathways have been described for the synthesis of TAGs. First, TAGs are mainly synthesized from DAG and acyl-CoAs by the activity of diacylglycerol acyltransferases. More recently, however, a phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase has also been identified that is responsible for conversion of phospholipid and DAG to lysophospholipid and TAG, respectively, thus producing TAG via an acyl-CoA-independent mechanism (Dahlqvist et al., PNAS. 97(12):6487-6492 (2000)). Finally, two acyl-CoA:sterol-acyltransferases are known that utilize acyl-CoAs and sterols to produce sterol esters (and TAGs in low quantities; see Sandager et al., Biochem. Soc. Trans. 28(6):700-702 (2000)).

[0006]A comprehensive mini-review on TAG biosynthesis in yeast, including details concerning the genes involved and the metabolic intermediates that lead to TAG synthesis, is that of D. Sorger and G. Daum (Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 61:289-299 (2003)). However, the authors acknowledge that most work performed thus far has focused on Saccharomyces cerevisiae and numerous questions regarding TAG formation and regulation remain. In this organism it has been conclusively demonstrated that only four genes are involved in storage lipid synthesis: ARE1 and ARE2 (encoding acyl-CoA:sterol-acyltransferases), LRO1 (encoding a phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase, or PDAT enzyme) and DGA1 (encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase, or DGAT2 enzyme) (Sandager, L. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 277(8):6478-6482 (2002)). Homologs of these genes have been identified in various other organisms and disclosed in the public literature, but none of these genes have been isolated from oleaginous yeast. Furthermore, techniques for modifying the transfer of fatty acids to the TAG pool in oleaginous yeast have not been developed. Thus, there is a need for the identification and isolation of genes encoding acyltransferases that will be suitable for use in the production and accumulation of PUFAs in the storage lipid pools (i.e., TAG fraction) of oleaginous yeast.

[0007]Genera typically identified as oleaginous yeast include, but are not

[0008]limited to: Yarrowia, Candida, Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Lipomyces. More specifically, illustrative oleaginous yeasts include: Rhodosporidium toruloides, Lipomyces starkeyii, L. lipoferus, Candida revkaufi, C. pulcherrima, C. tropicalis, C. utilis, Trichosporon pullans, T. cutaneum, Rhodotorula glutinus, R. graminis and Yarrowia lipolytica (formerly classified as Candida lipolytica). These organisms can accumulate oil up to 80% of their dry cell weight; and, the technology for growing oleaginous yeast with high oil content is well developed (for example, see EP 0 005 277B1; Ratledge, C., Prog. Ind. Microbiol. 16:119-206 (1982)). Most recently, the natural abilities of oleaginous yeast (mostly limited to 18:2 fatty acid production) have been enhanced by advances in genetic engineering, leading to the production of 20:4 (arachidonic acid), 20:5 (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 22:6 (docosahexaenoic acid) PUFAs in transformant Yarrowia lipolytica. These .omega.-3 and .omega.-6 fatty acids were produced by introducing and expressing heterologous genes encoding the .omega.-3/.omega.-6 biosynthetic pathway in the oleaginous host (see co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/840,579).

[0009]The importance of PUFAs are undisputed. For example, certain PUFAs are important biological components of healthy cells and are recognized as: "essential" fatty acids that cannot be synthesized de novo in mammals and instead must be obtained either in the diet or derived by further desaturation and elongation of linoleic acid (LA) or .alpha.-linolenic acid (ALA); constituents of plasma membranes of cells, where they may be found in such forms as phospholipids or TAGs; necessary for proper development (particularly in the developing infant brain) and for tissue formation and repair; and, precursors to several biologically active eicosanoids of importance in mammals (e.g., prostacyclins, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, prostaglandins). Additionally, a high intake of long-chain .omega.-3 PUFAs produces cardiovascular protective effects (Dyerberg, J. et al., Amer. J. Clin Nutr. 28:958-966 (1975); Dyerberg, J. et al., Lancet 2(8081):117-119 (Jul. 15, 1978); Shimokawa, H., World Rev Nutr Diet, 88:100-108 (2001); von Schacky, C., and Dyerberg, J., World Rev Nutr Diet, 88:90-99 (2001)). And, numerous other studies document wide-ranging health benefits conferred by administration of .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 fatty acids against a variety of symptoms and diseases (e.g., asthma, psoriasis, eczema, diabetes, cancer).

[0010]PUFAs are generally divided into two major classes (consisting of the .omega.-6 and the .omega.-3 fatty acids) that are derived by desaturation and elongation of the essential fatty acids, LA and ALA, respectively. Despite a variety of commercial sources of PUFAs from natural sources [e.g., seeds of evening primrose, borage and black currants; filamentous fungi (Mortierella), Porphyridium (red alga), fish oils and marine plankton (Cyclotella, Nitzschia, Crypthecodinium)], there are several disadvantages associated with these methods of production (e.g., highly heterogeneous oil compositions, accumulation of environmental pollutants, uncontrollable fluctuations in availability due to weather/disease, expense at the commercial scale). As a result of these limitations, extensive work has been conducted toward: 1.) the development of recombinant sources of PUFAs that are easy to produce commercially; and 2.) modification of fatty acid biosynthetic pathways, to enable production of desired PUFAs. Advances in the isolation, cloning and manipulation of fatty acid desaturase and elongase genes from various organisms have been made over the last several years. Knowledge of these gene sequences offers the prospect of producing a desired fatty acid and/or fatty acid composition in novel host organisms that do not naturally produce PUFAs.

[0011]As described in Picataggio et al. (co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,579), oleaginous yeast have been identified as an appropriate microbial system in which to express PUFA desaturase and elongase genes to enable economical production of commercial quantities of one or more PUFAs in these particular hosts. To further advance the work described therein towards the development of an oleaginous yeast that accumulates oils enriched in .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 fatty acids, however, it is necessary to increase the transfer of these PUFAs into storage TAGs (oil), once they are synthesized by fatty acid desaturases and elongases. Thus, there is a need for the identification and isolation of genes encoding acyltransferases that will be suitable for use in the production and accumulation of PUFAs in TAGs. Techniques for modifying the transfer of fatty acids to the TAG pool in oleaginous yeasts must also be developed.

[0012]Applicants have solved the stated problem by isolating the genes encoding PDAT and DGAT2 from the oleaginous yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica. These genes will be useful to enable one to modify the transfer of free fatty acids (e.g., .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 fatty acids) to the TAG pool in oleaginous yeast.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013]The invention relates to the discover of two genes, one encoding a phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme and the other encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme, from Yarrowia. The genes and encoded enzymes are useful in manipulating the production of commercially useful oils in microorganisms, and particularly in oleaginous yeasts. Accordingly the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme, selected from the group consisting of: [0014](a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:31, 78 and 79; [0015](b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes with (a) under the following hybridization conditions: 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS, 65.degree. C. and washed with 2.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS; or [0016](c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that is completely complementary to (a) or (b).

[0017]In another embodiment the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme, selected from the group consisting of: [0018](a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:46; [0019](b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes with (a) under the following hybridization conditions: 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS, 65.degree. C. and washed with 2.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS; or [0020](c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that is completely complementary to (a) or (b).

[0021]Similarly the invention provides polypeptides having diacylglycerol acyltransferase and phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity encoded by the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention as well as genetic chimera of these molecules and host cells comprising the same.

[0022]In one preferred embodiment the invention provides a method of increasing triacylglycerol content in a transformed host cell comprising: [0023](a) providing a transformed host cell comprising: [0024](i) at least one gene encoding an acyltransferase enzyme having the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:31, 78, 79 and 46 under the control of suitable regulatory sequences; and [0025](ii) a source of fatty acids; [0026](b) growing the cell of step (a) under conditions whereby the at least one gene encoding an acyltransferase enzyme is expressed, resulting in the transfer of the fatty acids to triacylglycerol; and [0027](c) optionally recovering the triacylglycerol of step (b).

[0028]In an additional preferred embodiment the invention provides a method of increasing the .omega.-3 or .omega.-6 fatty acid content of triacylglycerols in a transformed host cell comprising: [0029](a) providing a transformed host cell comprising: [0030](i) at least one gene encoding at least one enzyme of the .omega.-3/.omega.-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway; [0031](ii) at least one gene encoding an acyltransferase enzyme having the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:31, 78, 79 and 46 under the control of suitable regulatory sequences; [0032](b) growing the cell of step (a) under conditions whereby the genes of (i) and (ii) are expressed, resulting in the production of at least one .omega.-3 or .omega.-6 fatty acid and its transfer to triacylglycerol; and [0033](c) optionally recovering the triacylglycerol of step (b).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND SEQUENCE DESCRIPTIONS

[0034]FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the biochemical mechanism for lipid accumulation in oleaginous yeast.

[0035]FIG. 2 illustrates the .omega.-3 and .omega.-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathways.

[0036]FIG. 3 illustrates the construction of the plasmid vectors pY5 and pY5-13 for gene expression in Yarrowia lipolytica.

[0037]FIG. 4A shows a pairwise comparison between various yeast and fungal DGAT2 enzymes using a ClustalW analysis. In contrast, FIG. 4B shows a pairwise comparison between various yeast and fungal PDAT enzymes.

[0038]FIGS. 5A and 5B show an alignment of known glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (GenBank Accession No. CAA24607), Schizosaccharomyces pombe (GenBank Accession No. NP.sub.--595236), Aspergillus oryzae (GenBank Accession No. AAK08065), Paralichthys olivaceus (GenBank Accession No. BAA88638), Xenopus laevis (GenBank Accession No. P51469) and Gallus gallus (GenBank Accession No. DECHG3), used to identify two conserved regions within the sequence alignment.

[0039]The invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying sequence descriptions, which form a part of this application.

[0040]The following sequences comply with 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.821-1.825 ("Requirements for Patent Applications Containing Nucleotide Sequences and/or Amino Acid Sequence Disclosures--the Sequence Rules") and are consistent with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standard ST.25 (1998) and the sequence listing requirements of the EPO and PCT (Rules 5.2 and 49.5 (a-bis), and Section 208 and Annex C of the Administrative Instructions). The symbols and format used for nucleotide and amino acid sequence data comply with the rules set forth in 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.822.

[0041]SEQ ID NOs:1 and 2 correspond to primers TEF5' and TEF3', respectively, used to isolate the TEF promoter.

[0042]SEQ ID NOs:3 and 4 correspond to primers XPR5' and XPR3', respectively, used to isolate the XPR2 transcriptional terminator.

[0043]SEQ ID NOs:5-16 correspond to primers YL5, YL6, YL9, YL10, YL7, YL8, YL3, YL4, YL1, YL2, YL61 and YL62, respectively, used for plasmid construction.

[0044]SEQ ID NO:17 corresponds to a 1 kB DNA fragment (amino acid sequence provided as SEQ ID NO:18) containing the E. coli hygromycin resistance gene.

[0045]SEQ ID NO:19 corresponds to a 1.7 kB DNA fragment containing the Yarrowia Ura3 gene (amino acid sequence provided as SEQ ID NO:20), which was amplified with primers KU5 and KU3 (SEQ ID NOs:21 and 22, respectively).

[0046]SEQ ID NOs:23 and 25 are the degenerate primers identified as P7 and P8, respectively, used for the isolation of a Yarrowia lipolytica DGAT2.

[0047]SEQ ID NOs:24 and 26 are the amino acid consensus sequences that correspond to the degenerate primers P7 and P8, respectively.

[0048]SEQ ID NOs:27-29 correspond to primers P80, P81 and LinkAmp Primer1, respectively, used for chromosome walking.

[0049]SEQ ID NO:30 shows a 2119 bp DNA sequence comprising an ORF that encodes the Y. lipolytica DGAT2. SEQ ID NO:31 is 514 amino acid residues in length and corresponds to nucleotides +291 to +1835 of SEQ ID NO:30; SEQ ID NO:78 is 459 amino acid residues in length and corresponds to nucleotides +456 to +1835 of SEQ ID NO:30; and, SEQ ID NO:79 is 355 amino acid residues in length and corresponds to nucleotides +768 to +1835 of SEQ ID NO:30, as set forth in SEQ ID NO:86.

[0050]SEQ ID NOs:32-35 correspond to primers P95, P96, P97 and P98, respectively, used for targeted disruption of the Y. lipolytica DGAT2 gene.

[0051]SEQ ID NOs:36-38 correspond to primers P115, P116 and P112, respectively, used to screen for targeted integration of the disrupted Y. lipolytica DGAT2 gene.

[0052]SEQ ID NOs:39 and 41 are the degenerate primers identified as P26 and P27, respectively, used for the isolation of the Y. lipolytica PDAT.

[0053]SEQ ID NOs:40 and 42 are the amino acid consensus sequences that correspond to degenerate primers P26 and P27, respectively.

[0054]SEQ ID NOs:43 and 44 correspond to primers P39 and P42, respectively, used to amplify a 1008 bp portion of the Y. lipolytica PDAT gene.

[0055]SEQ ID NO:45 shows a DNA sequence that encodes the Y. lipolytica PDAT (ORF=nucleotides +274 to +2217), while SEQ ID NO:46 shows the corresponding amino acid sequence of PDAT.

[0056]SEQ ID NOs:47 and 48 correspond to primers P41 and P40, respectively, used for targeted disruption of the Y. lipolytica PDAT gene.

[0057]SEQ ID NOs:49-52 correspond to primers P51, P52, P37 and P38, respectively, used to screen for targeted integration of the disrupted Y. lipolytica PDAT gene.

[0058]SEQ ID NO:53 corresponds to primer P79, used to amplify the full-length Y. lipolytica DGAT2 gene from rescued plasmids.

[0059]SEQ ID NOs:54 and 55 correspond to primers P84 and P85, respectively, used to amplify the full-length Y. lipolytica PDAT gene from rescued plasmids.

[0060]SEQ ID NO:56 corresponds to a 971 bp fragment designated as "GPDPro", and identified as the putative glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) promoter in Y. lipolytica.

[0061]SEQ ID NOs:57-62 correspond to the GPD amino acid sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (GenBank Accession No. CAA24607), Schizosaccharomyces pombe (GenBank Accession No. NP.sub.--595236), Aspergillus oryzae (GenBank Accession No. AAK08065), Paralichthys olivaceus (GenBank Accession No. BAA88638), Xenopus laevis (GenBank Accession No. P51469) and Gallus gallus (GenBank Accession No. DECHG3), respectively.

[0062]SEQ ID NOs:63 and 64 correspond to conserved amino acid regions of the GPD protein.

[0063]SEQ ID NOs:65 and 66 correspond to the degenerate primers YL193 and YL194, respectively, used for isolating an internal portion of the Y. lipolytica GPD gene.

[0064]SEQ ID NO:67 encodes a 507 bp internal portion of the Y. lipolytica GPD gene, while SEQ ID NO:68 is the corresponding amino acid sequence.

[0065]SEQ ID NOs:69-71 correspond to primers YL206, YL207 and YL208, respectively, used for chromosome walking.

[0066]SEQ ID NO:72 corresponds to a 1848 bp fragment designated as "GPDP", comprising 1525 bp upstream of the GPD gene and an additional 323 bp representing a 5' portion of the GPD gene in Y. lipolytica.

[0067]SEQ ID NOs:73 and 74 correspond to primers P145 and P146, respectively, used to amplify the full-length Y. lipolytica DGAT2 gene.

[0068]SEQ ID NOs:75 and 76 correspond to primers YPDAT5 and YPDAT3, respectively, used to amplify the full-length Y. lipolytica PDAT gene.

[0069]SEQ ID NO:77 corresponds to primer LinkAmp primer 2, used for chromosome walking.

[0070]SEQ ID NOs:80 and 81 correspond to primers GPD-1 and GPD-2, respectively, used to amplify the S. cerevisiae glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) promoter.

[0071]SEQ ID NOs:82 and 83 correspond to primers ADHT-1 and ADHT-2, respectively, used to amplify the S. cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1) terminator.

[0072]SEQ ID NOs:84 and 85 correspond to primers UP 161 and LP 162, respectively, used to create a S. cerevisiae LRO 1 targeting cassette.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0073]In accordance with the subject invention, Applicants have isolated and confirmed the identity of Yarrowia lipolytica genes encoding phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT2) enzymes useful for transferring fatty acids into storage triacylglycerols (TAGs). This may be useful to alter the quantity of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) produced in oleaginous yeasts.

[0074]The subject invention finds many applications. PUFAs, or derivatives thereof, accumulated by the methodology disclosed herein can be used as dietary substitutes, or supplements, particularly infant formulas, for patients undergoing intravenous feeding or for preventing or treating malnutrition. Alternatively, the purified PUFAs (or derivatives thereof) may be incorporated into cooking oils, fats or margarines formulated so that in normal use the recipient would receive the desired amount for dietary supplementation. The PUFAs may also be incorporated into infant formulas, nutritional supplements or other food products and may find use as anti-inflammatory or cholesterol lowering agents. Optionally, the compositions may be used for pharmaceutical use (human or veterinary). In this case, the PUFAs are generally administered orally but can be administered by any route by which they may be successfully absorbed, e.g., parenterally (e.g., subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously), rectally, vaginally or topically (e.g., as a skin ointment or lotion).

[0075]Supplementation of humans or animals with PUFAs produced by recombinant means can result in increased levels of the added PUFAs, as well as their metabolic progeny. For example, treatment with arachidonic (ARA) can result not only in increased levels of ARA, but also downstream products of ARA such as prostaglandins. Complex regulatory mechanisms can make it desirable to combine various PUFAs, or add different conjugates of PUFAs, in order to prevent, control or overcome such mechanisms to achieve the desired levels of specific PUFAs in an individual.

DEFINITIONS

[0076]In this disclosure, a number of terms and abbreviations are used. The following definitions are provided.

[0077]"Open reading frame" is abbreviated ORF.

[0078]"Polymerase chain reaction" is abbreviated PCR.

[0079]"American Type Culture Collection" is abbreviated ATCC.

[0080]"Polyunsaturated fatty acid(s)" is abbreviated PUFA(s).

[0081]"Phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase" is abbreviated PDAT.

[0082]"Diacylglycerol acyltransferase" is abbreviated DGAT.

[0083]"Diacylglycerol" is abbreviated DAG.

[0084]"Triacylglycerols" are abbreviated TAGs.

[0085]"Co-enzyme A" is abbreviated CoA.

[0086]The term "fatty acids" refers to long chain aliphatic acids (alkanoic acids) of varying chain length, from about C.sub.12 to C.sub.22 (although both longer and shorter chain-length acids are known). The predominant chain lengths are between C.sub.16 and C.sub.22. The structure of a fatty acid is represented by a simple notation system of "X:Y", where X is the total number of carbon (C) atoms in the particular fatty acid and Y is the number of double bonds.

[0087]Generally, fatty acids are classified as saturated or unsaturated. The term "saturated fatty acids" refers to those fatty acids that have no "double bonds" between their carbon backbone. In contrast, "unsaturated fatty acids" have "double bonds" along their carbon backbones (which are most commonly in the cis-configuration). "Monounsaturated fatty acids" have only one "double bond" along the carbon backbone (e.g., usually between the 9.sup.th and 10.sup.th carbon atom as for palmitoleic acid (16:1) and oleic acid (18:1)), while "polyunsaturated fatty acids" (or "PUFAs") have at least two double bonds along the carbon backbone (e.g., between the 9.sup.th and 10.sup.th, and 12.sup.th and 13.sup.th carbon atoms for linoleic acid (18:2); and between the 9.sup.th and 10.sup.th, 12.sup.th and 13.sup.th, and 15.sup.th and 16.sup.th for .alpha.-linolenic:acid (18:3)).

[0088]"PUFAs" can be classified into two major families (depending on the position (n) of the first double bond nearest the methyl end of the fatty acid carbon chain). Thus, the "omega-6 fatty acids" (.omega.-6 or n-6) have the first unsaturated double bond six carbon atoms from the omega (methyl) end of the molecule and additionally have a total of two or more double bonds, with each subsequent unsaturation occurring 3 additional carbon atoms toward the carboxyl end of the molecule. In contrast, the "omega-3 fatty acids" (.omega.-3 or n-3) have the first unsaturated double bond three carbon atoms away from the omega end of the molecule and additionally have a total of three or more double bonds, with each subsequent unsaturation occurring 3 additional carbon atoms toward the carboxyl end of the molecule.

[0089]For the purposes of the present disclosure, the omega-reference system will be used to indicate the number of carbons, the number of double bonds and the position of the double bond closest to the omega carbon, counting from the omega carbon (which is numbered 1 for this purpose). This nomenclature is shown below in Table 1, in the column titled "Shorthand Notation". The remainder of the Table summarizes the common names of .omega.-3 and .omega.-6 fatty acids, the abbreviations that will be used throughout the specification and each compounds' chemical name.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Nomenclature Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Shorthand Common Name Abbreviation Chemical Name Notation Linoleic LA cis-9,12-octadecadienoic 18:2 .omega.-6 .gamma.-Linoleic GLA cis-6,9,12- 18:3 .omega.-6 octadecatrienoic Dihomo-.gamma.- DGLA cis-8,11,14- 20:3 .omega.-6 Linoleic eicosatrienoic Arachidonic ARA cis-5,8,11,14- 20:4 .omega.-6 eicosatetraenoic .alpha.-Linolenic ALA cis-9,12,15- 18:3 .omega.-3 octadecatrienoic Stearidonic STA cis-6,9,12,15- 18:4 .omega.-3 octadecatetraenoic Eicosa- ETA cis-8,11,14,17- 20:4 .omega.-3 tetraenoic eicosatetraenoic Eicosa- EPA cis-5,8,11,14,17- 20:5 .omega.-3 pentaenoic eicosapentaenoic Docosa- DPA cis-7,10,13,16,19- 22:5 .omega.-3 pentaenoic docosapentaenoic Docosa- DHA cis-4,7,10,13,16,19- 22:6 .omega.-3 hexaenoic docosahexaenoic

[0090]"Microbial oils" or "single cell oils" are those oils naturally produced by microorganisms (e.g., algae, oleaginous yeasts and filamentous fungi) during their lifespan. The term "oil" refers to a lipid substance that is liquid at 25.degree. C. and usually polyunsaturated. In contrast, the term "fat" refers to a lipid substance that is solid at 25.degree. C. and usually saturated.

[0091]"Lipid bodies" refer to lipid droplets that usually are bounded by specific proteins and a monolayer of phospholipid. These organelles are sites where most organisms transport/store neutral lipids. Lipid bodies are thought to arise from microdomains of the endoplasmic reticulum that contain TAG-biosynthesis enzymes; and, their synthesis and size appear to be controlled by specific protein components.

[0092]"Neutral lipids" refer to those lipids commonly found in cells in lipid bodies as storage fats and oils and are so called because at cellular pH, the lipids bear no charged groups. Generally, they are completely non-polar with no affinity for water. Neutral lipids generally refer to mono-, di-, and/or triesters of glycerol with fatty acids, also called monoacylglycerol, diacylglycerol or TAG, respectively (or collectively, acylglycerols). A hydrolysis reaction must occur to release free fatty acids from acylglycerols.

[0093]The terms "triacylglycerol", "oil" and "TAGs" refer to neutral lipids composed of three fatty acyl residues esterified to a glycerol molecule (and such terms will be used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure herein). Such oils can contain long chain PUFAs, as well as shorter saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and longer chain saturated fatty acids. Thus, "oil biosynthesis" generically refers to the synthesis of TAGs in the cell.

[0094]The term "DAG AT" refers to a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (also known as an acyl-CoA-diacylglycerol acyltransferase or a diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase) (EC 2.3.1.20). This enzyme is responsible for the conversion of acyl-CoA and 1,2-diacylglycerol to TAG and CoA (thereby involved in the terminal step of TAG biosynthesis). Two families of DAG AT enzymes exist: DGAT1 and DGAT2. The former family shares homology with the acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) gene family, while the latter family is unrelated (Lardizabal et al., J. Biol. Chem. 276(42):38862-28869 (2001)). A representative DGAT2 enzyme is encoded by the DGA1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (locus NP.sub.--014888 of Genbank Accession No. NC.sub.--001147; Oelkers et. al. J. Biol. Chem. 277:8877 (2002)); a gene encoding DGAT2 isolated from Yarrowia lipolytica is provided as SEQ ID NO:30.

[0095]The term "PDAT" refers to a phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme (EC 2.3.1.158). This enzyme is responsible for the transfer of an acyl group from the sn-2 position of a phospholipid to the sn-3 position of 1,2-diacylglycerol, thus resulting in lysophospholipid and TAG (thereby involved in the terminal step of TAG biosynthesis). This enzyme differs from DGAT (EC 2.3.1.20) by synthesizing TAG via an acyl-CoA-independent mechanism. A representative PDAT enzyme is encoded by the LRO1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Dahlqvist et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:6487 (2000)); a gene encoding PDAT isolated from Yarrowia lipolytica is provided as SEQ ID NO:45.

[0096]The term "PUFA biosynthetic pathway enzyme" refers to any of the following enzymes (and genes which encode said enzymes) associated with the biosynthesis of a PUFA including: a .DELTA.4 desaturase, a .DELTA.5 desaturase, a .DELTA.6 desaturase, a .DELTA.12 desaturase, a .DELTA.15 desaturase, a .DELTA.17 desaturase, a .DELTA.9 desaturase, a .DELTA.8 desaturase and/or an elongase.

[0097]The term ".omega.-3/.omega.-6 fatty biosynthetic pathway" refers to genes encoding the enzymatic pathway as illustrated in FIG. 2, providing for the conversion of oleic acid through various intermediates to DHA.

[0098]The term "desaturase" refers to a polypeptide that can desaturate, i.e., introduce a double bond, in one or more fatty acids to produce a mono- or polyunsaturated fatty acid. Despite use of the omega-reference system throughout the specification in reference to specific fatty acids, it is more convenient to indicate the activity of a desaturase by counting from the carboxyl end of the substrate using the delta-system. Of particular interest herein are: .DELTA.12 desaturases that desaturate a fatty acid between the 12.sup.th and 13.sup.th carbon atoms numbered from the carboxyl-terminal end of the molecule and that catalyze the conversion of oleic acid to LA; .DELTA.15 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of LA to ALA; .DELTA.17 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of ARA to EPA and/or DGLA to ETA; .DELTA.6 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of LA to GLA and/or ALA to STA; .DELTA.5 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of DGLA to ARA and/or ETA to EPA; .DELTA.4 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of DPA to DHA; .DELTA.8 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of eicosadienoic acid (EDA; C20:2) to DGLA and/or eicosatrienoic acid (ETrA; C20:3) to ETA; and .DELTA.9 desaturases that catalyze the conversion of palmitate to palmitoleic acid (16:1) and/or stearate to oleic acid (18:1).

[0099]The term "elongase" refers to a polypeptide that can elongate a fatty acid carbon chain to produce an acid that is 2 carbons longer than the fatty acid substrate that the elongase acts upon. This process of elongation occurs in a multi-step mechanism in association with fatty acid synthase, whereby CoA is the acyl carrier (Lassner et al., The Plant Cell 8:281-292 (1996)). Briefly, malonyl-CoA is condensed with a long-chain acyl-CoA to yield CO.sub.2 and a .beta.-ketoacyl-CoA (where the acyl moiety has been elongated by two carbon atoms). Subsequent reactions include reduction to .beta.-hydroxyacyl-CoA, dehydration to an enoyl-CoA and a second reduction to yield the elongated acyl-CoA. Examples of reactions catalyzed by elongases are the conversion of GLA to DGLA, STA to ETA, and EPA to DPA. Accordingly, elongases can have different specificities. For example, a C.sub.16/18 elongase will prefer a C.sub.16 substrate, a C.sub.18/20 elongase will prefer a C.sub.18 substrate and a C.sub.20/22 elongase will prefer a C.sub.20 substrate. In like manner, a .DELTA.9 elongase is able to catalyze the conversion of LA and ALA to eicosadienoic acid (EDA; C20:2) and eicosatrienoic acid (ETrA; C20:3), respectively.

[0100]The terms "conversion efficiency" and "percent substrate conversion" refer to the efficiency by which a particular enzyme (e.g., a desaturase or elongase) can convert substrate to product. The conversion efficiency is measured according to the following formula: ([product]/[substrate+product])*100, where `product` includes the immediate product and all products in the pathway derived from it.

[0101]The term "oleaginous" refers to those organisms that have the ability to store their energy source in the form of TAGs (Weete, In: Fungal Lipid Biochemistry, 2.sup.nd ed., Plenum, 1980). Generally, the cellular oil content of these microorganisms follows a sigmoid curve, wherein the concentration of lipid increases until it reaches a maximum at the late logarithmic or early stationary growth phase and then gradually decreases during the late stationary and death phases (Yongmanitchai and Ward, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:419-25 (1991)).

[0102]The term "oleaginous yeast" refers to those microorganisms classified as yeasts that can accumulate at least 25% of their dry cell weight as oil. Examples of oleaginous yeast include, but are no means limited to, the following genera: Yarrowia, Candida, Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Lipomyces.

[0103]The term "fermentable carbon substrate" means a carbon source that a microorganism will metabolize to derive energy. Typical carbon substrates of the invention include, but are not limited to: monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, alkanes, fatty acids, esters of fatty acids, monoglycerides, carbon dioxide, methanol, formaldehyde, formate and carbon-containing amines.

[0104]As used herein, an "isolated nucleic acid fragment" is a polymer of RNA or DNA that is single- or double-stranded, optionally containing synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases. An isolated nucleic acid fragment in the form of a polymer of DNA may be comprised of one or more segments of cDNA, genomic DNA or synthetic DNA.

[0105]A nucleic acid molecule is "hybridizable" to another nucleic acid molecule, such as a cDNA, genomic DNA, or RNA molecule, when a single-stranded form of the nucleic acid molecule can anneal to the other nucleic acid molecule under the appropriate conditions of temperature and solution ionic strength. Hybridization and washing conditions are well known and exemplified in Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), particularly Chapter 11 and Table 11.1 therein (entirely incorporated herein by reference). The conditions of temperature and ionic strength determine the "stringency" of the hybridization. Stringency conditions can be adjusted to screen for moderately similar fragments (such as homologous sequences from distantly related organisms), to highly similar fragments (such as genes that duplicate functional enzymes from closely related organisms). Post-hybridization washes determine stringency conditions. One set of preferred conditions uses a series of washes starting with 6.times.SSC, 0.5% SDS at room temperature for 15 min, then repeated with 2.times.SSC, 0.5% SDS at 45.degree. C. for 30 min, and then repeated twice with 0.2.times.SSC, 0.5% SDS at 50.degree. C. for 30 min. A more preferred set of stringent conditions uses higher temperatures in which the washes are identical to those above except for the temperature of the final two 30 min washes in 0.2.times.SSC, 0.5% SDS was increased to 60.degree. C. Another preferred set of highly stringent conditions uses two final washes in 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65.degree. C. An additional set of stringent conditions include hybridization at 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS, 65.degree. C. and washed with 2.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS, for example.

[0106]Hybridization requires that the two nucleic acids contain complementary sequences, although depending on the stringency of the hybridization, mismatches between bases are possible. The appropriate stringency for hybridizing nucleic acids depends on the length of the nucleic acids and the degree of complementation, variables well known in the art. The greater the degree of similarity or homology between two nucleotide sequences, the greater the value of Tm for hybrids of nucleic acids having those sequences. The relative stability (corresponding to higher Tm) of nucleic acid hybridizations decreases in the following order: RNA:RNA, DNA:RNA, DNA:DNA. For hybrids of greater than 100 nucleotides in length, equations for calculating Tm have been derived (see Sambrook et al., supra, 9.50-9.51). For hybridizations with shorter nucleic acids, i.e., oligonucleotides, the position of mismatches becomes more important, and the length of the oligonucleotide determines its specificity (see Sambrook et al., supra, 11.7-11.8). In one embodiment the length for a hybridizable nucleic acid is at least about 10 nucleotides. Preferably a minimum length for a hybridizable nucleic acid is at least about 15 nucleotides; more preferably at least about 20 nucleotides; and most preferably the length is at least about 30 nucleotides. Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize that the temperature and wash solution salt concentration may be adjusted as necessary according to factors such as length of the probe.

[0107]A "substantial portion" of an amino acid or nucleotide sequence is that portion comprising enough of the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide or the nucleotide sequence of a gene to putatively identify that polypeptide or gene, either by manual evaluation of the sequence by one skilled in the art, or by computer-automated sequence comparison and identification using algorithms such as BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul, S. F., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1993). In general, a sequence of ten or more contiguous amino acids or thirty or more nucleotides is necessary in order to putatively identify a polypeptide or nucleic acid sequence as homologous to a known protein or gene. Moreover, with respect to nucleotide sequences, gene specific oligonucleotide probes comprising 20-30 contiguous nucleotides may be used in sequence-dependent methods of gene identification (e.g., Southern hybridization) and isolation (e.g., in situ hybridization of bacterial colonies or bacteriophage plaques). In addition, short oligonucleotides of 12-15 bases may be used as amplification primers in PCR in order to obtain a particular nucleic acid fragment comprising the primers. Accordingly, a "substantial portion" of a nucleotide sequence comprises enough of the sequence to specifically identify and/or isolate a nucleic acid fragment comprising the sequence. The instant specification teaches partial or complete amino acid and nucleotide sequences encoding one or more particular yeast proteins. The skilled artisan, having the benefit of the sequences as reported herein, may now use all or a substantial portion of the disclosed sequences for purposes known to those skilled in this art. Accordingly, the instant invention comprises the complete sequences as reported in the accompanying Sequence Listing, as well as substantial portions of those sequences as defined above.

[0108]The term "complementary" is used to describe the relationship between nucleotide bases that are capable of hybridizing to one another. For example, with respect to DNA, adenosine is complementary to thymine and cytosine is complementary to guanine. Accordingly, the instant invention also includes isolated nucleic acid fragments that are complementary to the complete sequences as reported in the accompanying Sequence Listing, as well as those substantially similar nucleic acid sequences.

[0109]The term "percent identity", as known in the art, is a relationship between two or more polypeptide sequences or two or more polynucleotide sequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. In the art, "identity" also means the degree of sequence relatedness between polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences, as the case may be, as determined by the match between strings of such sequences. "Identity" and "similarity" can be readily calculated by known methods, including but not limited to those described in: 1.) Computational Molecular Biology (Lesk, A. M., Ed.) Oxford University: NY (1988); 2.) Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects (Smith, D. W., Ed.) Academic: NY (1993); 3.) Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, Part I (Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., Eds.) Humania: NJ (1994); 4.) Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology (von Heinje, G., Ed.) Academic (1987); and 5.) Sequence Analysis Primer (Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., Eds.) Stockton: NY (1991). Preferred methods to determine identity are designed to give the best match between the sequences tested. Methods to determine identity and similarity are codified in publicly available computer programs. Sequence alignments and percent identity calculations may be performed using the Megalign program of the LASERGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). Multiple alignment of the sequences is performed using the Clustal method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp, CABIOS. 5:151-153 (1989)) with default parameters (GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=10). Default parameters for pairwise alignments using the Clustal method are: KTUPLE 1, GAP PENALTY=3, WINDOW=5 and DIAGONALS SAVED=5.

[0110]Suitable nucleic acid fragments (isolated polynucleotides of the present invention) encode polypeptides that are at least about 70% identical, preferably at least about 75% identical, and more preferably at least about 80% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. Preferred nucleic acid fragments encode amino acid sequences that are about 85% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. More preferred nucleic acid fragments encode amino acid sequences that are at least about 90% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. Most preferred are nucleic acid fragments that encode amino acid sequences that are at least about 95% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. Suitable nucleic acid fragments not only have the above homologies but typically encode a polypeptide having at least 50 amino acids, preferably at least 100 amino acids, more preferably at least 150 amino acids, still more preferably at least 200 amino acids, and most preferably at least 250 amino acids.

[0111]The term "sequence analysis software" refers to any computer algorithm or software program that is useful for the analysis of nucleotide or amino acid sequences. "Sequence analysis software" may be commercially available or independently developed. Typical sequence analysis software will include, but is not limited to: 1.) the GCG suite of programs (Wisconsin Package Version 9.0, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), Madison, Wis.); 2.) BLASTP, BLASTN, BLASTX (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990)); 3.) DNASTAR (DNASTAR, Inc. Madison, Wis.); 4.) Sequencher (Gene Codes Corporation, Ann Arbor, Mich.); and 5.) the FASTA program incorporating the Smith-Waterman algorithm (W. R. Pearson, Comput. Methods Genome Res., [Proc. Int. Symp.] (1994), Meeting Date 1992, 111-20. Editor(s): Suhai, Sandor. Plenum: New York, N.Y.). Within the context of this application it will be understood that where sequence analysis software is used for analysis, that the results of the analysis will be based on the "default values" of the program referenced, unless otherwise specified. As used herein "default values" will mean any set of values or parameters that originally load with the software when first initialized.

[0112]"Codon degeneracy" refers to the nature in the genetic code permitting variation of the nucleotide sequence without affecting the amino acid sequence of an encoded polypeptide. The skilled artisan is well aware of the "codon-bias" exhibited by a specific host cell in usage of nucleotide codons to specify a given amino acid. Therefore, when synthesizing a gene for improved expression in a host cell, it is desirable to design the gene such that its frequency of codon usage approaches the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell.

[0113]The term "codon-optimized", as it refers to genes or coding regions of nucleic acid molecules, refers to modification of codons such that the altered codons reflect the typical codon usage of the host organism without altering the polypeptide for which the DNA codes.

[0114]"Synthetic genes" can be assembled from oligonucleotide building blocks that are chemically synthesized using procedures known to those skilled in the art. These building blocks are ligated and annealed to form gene segments that are then enzymatically assembled to construct the entire gene. Accordingly, the genes can be tailored for optimal gene expression based on optimization of nucleotide sequence to reflect the codon bias of the host cell. The skilled artisan appreciates the likelihood of successful gene expression if codon usage is biased towards those codons favored by the host. Determination of preferred codons can be based on a survey of genes derived from the host cell, where sequence information is available.

[0115]"Gene" refers to a nucleic acid fragment that expresses a specific protein, including regulatory sequences preceding (5' non-coding sequences) and following (3' non-coding sequences) the coding sequence. "Native gene" refers to a gene as found in nature with its own regulatory sequences. "Chimeric gene" refers to any gene that is not a native gene, comprising regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature. Accordingly, a chimeric gene may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature. "Endogenous gene" refers to a native gene in its natural location in the genome of an organism. A "foreign" gene refers to a gene not normally found in the host organism, but that is introduced into the host organism by gene transfer. Foreign genes can comprise native genes inserted into a non-native organism, or chimeric genes. A "transgene" is a gene that has been introduced into the genome by a transformation procedure. A "codon-optimized gene" is a gene having its frequency of codon usage designed to mimic the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell.

[0116]"Coding sequence" refers to a DNA sequence that codes for a specific amino acid sequence. "Suitable regulatory sequences" refer to nucleotide sequences located upstream (5' non-coding sequences), within, or downstream (3' non-coding sequences) of a coding sequence, and which influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence. Regulatory sequences may include promoters, translation leader sequences, introns, polyadenylation recognition sequences, RNA processing sites, effector binding sites and stem-loop structures.

[0117]"Promoter" refers to a DNA sequence capable of controlling the expression of a coding sequence or functional RNA. In general, a coding sequence is located 3' to a promoter sequence. Promoters may be derived in their entirety from a native gene, or be composed of different elements derived from different promoters found in nature, or even comprise synthetic DNA segments. It is understood by those skilled in the art that different promoters may direct the expression of a gene in different tissues or cell types, or at different stages of development, or in response to different environmental or physiological conditions. Promoters that cause a gene to be expressed in most cell types at most times are commonly referred to as "constitutive promoters". It is further recognized that since in most cases the exact boundaries of regulatory sequences have not been completely defined, DNA fragments of different lengths may have identical promoter activity.

[0118]The term "3'non-coding sequences" or "transcription terminator" refers to DNA sequences located downstream of a coding sequence. This includes polyadenylation recognition sequences and other sequences encoding regulatory signals capable of affecting mRNA processing or gene expression. The polyadenylation signal is usually characterized by affecting the addition of polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3' end of the mRNA precursor. The 3' region can influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence.

[0119]"RNA transcript" refers to the product resulting from RNA polymerase-catalyzed transcription of a DNA sequence. When the RNA transcript is a perfect complementary copy of the DNA sequence, it is referred to as the primary transcript or it may be a RNA sequence derived from post-transcriptional processing of the primary transcript and is referred to as the mature RNA. "Messenger RNA" or "mRNA" refers to the RNA that is without introns and that can be translated into protein by the cell. "cDNA" refers to a double-stranded DNA that is complementary to, and derived from, mRNA. "Sense" RNA refers to RNA transcript that includes the mRNA and so can be translated into protein by the cell. "Antisense RNA" refers to a RNA transcript that is complementary to all or part of a target primary transcript or mRNA and that blocks the expression of a target gene (U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,065; WO 99/28508). The complementarity of an antisense RNA may be with any part of the specific gene transcript, i.e., at the 5' non-coding sequence, 3' non-coding sequence, or the coding sequence. "Functional RNA" refers to antisense RNA, ribozyme RNA, or other RNA that is not translated and yet has an effect on cellular processes.

[0120]The term "operably linked" refers to the association of nucleic acid sequences on a single nucleic acid fragment so that the function of one is affected by the other. For example, a promoter is operably linked with a coding sequence when it is capable of affecting the expression of that coding sequence (i.e., the coding sequence is under the transcriptional control of the promoter). Coding sequences can be operably linked to regulatory sequences in sense or antisense orientation.

[0121]The term "expression", as used herein, refers to the transcription and stable accumulation of sense (mRNA) or antisense RNA derived from the nucleic acid fragment(s) of the invention. Expression may also refer to translation of mRNA into a polypeptide.

[0122]"Transformation" refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid molecule into a host organism, resulting in genetically stable inheritance. The nucleic acid molecule may be a plasmid that replicates autonomously, for example; or, it may integrate into the genome of the host organism. Host organisms containing the transformed nucleic acid fragments are referred to as "transgenic" or "recombinant" or "transformed" organisms.

[0123]The terms "plasmid", "vector" and "cassette" refer to an extra chromosomal element often carrying genes that are not part of the central metabolism of the cell, and usually in the form of circular double-stranded DNA fragments. Such elements may be autonomously replicating sequences, genome integrating sequences, phage or nucleotide sequences, linear or circular, of a single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA, derived from any source, in which a number of nucleotide sequences have been joined or recombined into a unique construction which is capable of introducing a promoter fragment and DNA sequence for a selected gene product along with appropriate 3' untranslated sequence into a cell. "Transformation cassette" refers to a specific vector containing a foreign gene(s) and having elements in addition to the foreign gene(s) that facilitate transformation of a particular host cell. "Expression cassette" refers to a specific vector containing a foreign gene(s) and having elements in addition to the foreign gene(s) that allow for enhanced expression of that gene in a foreign host.

[0124]The term "homologous recombination" refers to the exchange of DNA fragments between two DNA molecules (during cross over). The fragments that are exchanged are flanked by sites of identical nucleotide sequences between the two DNA molecules (i.e., "regions of homology"). The term "regions of homology" refer to stretches of nucleotide sequence on nucleic acid fragments that participate in homologous recombination that have homology to each other. Effective homologous recombination will take place where these regions of homology are at least about 10 bp in length where at least about 50 bp in length is preferred. Typically fragments that are intended for recombination contain at least two regions of homology where targeted gene disruption or replacement is desired.

[0125]Standard recombinant DNA and molecular cloning techniques used herein are well known in the art and are described by Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2.sup.nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989) (hereinafter "Maniatis"); by Silhavy, T. J., Bennan, M. L. and Enquist, L. W., Experiments with Gene Fusions, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1984); and by Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, published by Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley-Interscience (1987).

Microbial Biosynthesis of Fatty Acids and Triacyglycerols

[0126]In general, lipid accumulation in oleaginous microorganisms is triggered in response to the overall carbon to nitrogen ratio present in the growth medium (FIG. 1). When cells have exhausted available nitrogen supplies (e.g., when the carbon to nitrogen ratio is greater than about 40), the depletion of cellular adenosine monophosphate (AMP) leads to the cessation of AMP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in the mitochondria and the accumulation of citrate, transport of citrate into the cytosol, and subsequent cleavage of the citrate by ATP-citrate lyase to yield acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate. Acetyl-CoA is the principle building block for de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. Although any compound that can effectively be metabolized to acetyl-CoA can serve as a precursor of fatty acids, glucose is the primary source of carbon in this type of reaction (FIG. 1). Glucose is converted to pyruvate via glycolysis, and pyruvate is then transported into the mitochondria where it can be converted to acetyl-CoA by pyruvate dehydrogenase ("PD"). Since acetyl-CoA can not be transported directly across the mitochondrial membrane into the cytoplasm, the two carbons from acetyl-CoA condense with oxaloacetate to yield citrate (catalyzed by citrate synthase). Citrate is transported directly into the cytoplasm, where it is cleaved by ATP-citrate lyase to regenerate acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate. The oxaloacetate reenters the tricarboxylic acid cycle, via conversion to malate.

[0127]The synthesis of malonyl-CoA is the first committed step of fatty acid biosynthesis, which takes place in the cytoplasm. Malonyl-CoA is produced via carboxylation of acetyl-CoA by acetyl-CoA carboxylase ("ACC"). Fatty acid synthesis is catalyzed by a multi-enzyme fatty acid synthase complex ("FAS") and occurs by the condensation of eight two-carbon fragments (acetyl groups from acetyl-CoA) to form a 16-carbon saturated fatty acid, palmitate. More specifically, FAS catalyzes a series of 7 reactions, which involve the following (Smith, S. FASEB J, 8(15):1248-59 (1994)): [0128]1. Acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA are transferred to the acyl carrier peptide (ACP) of FAS. The acetyl group is then transferred to the malonyl group, forming .beta.-ketobutyryl-ACP and releasing CO.sub.2. [0129]2. The .beta.-ketobutyryl-ACP undergoes reduction (via .beta.-ketoacyl reductase) and dehydration (via .beta.-hydroxyacyl dehydratase) to form a trans-monounsaturated fatty acyl group. [0130]3. The double bond is reduced by NADPH, yielding a saturated fatty-acyl group two carbons longer than the initial one. The butyryl-group's ability to condense with a new malonyl group and repeat the elongation process is then regenerated. [0131]4. When the fatty acyl group becomes 16 carbons long, a thioesterase activity hydrolyses it, releasing free palmitate (16:0).

[0132]Whereas palmitate synthesis occurs in the cytosol, formation of longer chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acid derivates occur in both the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), wherein the ER is the dominant system. Specifically, palmitate (16:0) is the precursor of stearic (18:0), palmitoleic (16:1) and oleic (18:1) acids through the action of elongases and desaturases. For example, palmitate and stearate are converted to their unsaturated derivatives, palmitoleic (16:1) and oleic (18:1) acids, respectively, by the action of a .DELTA.9 desaturase.

[0133]TAGs (the primary storage unit for fatty acids) are formed by a series of reactions that involve: 1.) the esterification of one molecule of acyl-CoA to glycerol-3-phosphate via an acyltransferase to produce lysophosphatidic acid; 2.) the esterification of a second molecule of acyl-CoA via an acyltransferase to yield 1,2-diacylglycerol phosphate (commonly identified as phosphatidic acid); 3.) removal of a phosphate by phosphatidic acid phosphatase to yield 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG); and 4.) the addition of a third fatty acid by the action of a DAG acyltransferase (e.g., PDAT, DGAT2 or DGAT2) to form TAG (FIG. 1).

[0134]A wide spectrum of fatty acids can be incorporated into TAGs, including saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and short-chain and long-chain fatty acids. Some non-limiting examples of fatty acids that can be incorporated into TAGs by acyltransferases (e.g., DGAT2 or PDAT) include: capric (10:0), lauric (12:0), myristic (14:0), palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic (16:1), stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), vaccenic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), eleostearic (18:3), .gamma.-linolenic (18:3), .alpha.-linolenic (18:3), stearidonic (18:4), arachidic (20:0), eicosadienoic (20:2), dihomo-.gamma.-linoleic (20:3), eicosatrienoic (20:3), arachidonic (20:4), eicosa-tetraenoic (20:4), eicosa-pentaenoic (20:5), behenic (22:0), docosa-pentaenoic (22:5), docosa-hexaenoic (22:6), lignoceric (24:0), nervonic (24:1), cerotic (26:0), and montanic (28:0) fatty acids. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, incorporation of PUFAs into TAG is most desirable.

[0135]Genes Encoding DGAT2

[0136]Historically, DGAT1 (responsible for the third acyl transferase reaction, wherein an acyl-CoA group is transferred from acyl-CoA to the sn-3 position of DAG to form TAG) was thought to be the only enzyme specifically involved in TAG synthesis. This enzyme was known to be homologous to acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferases (ACATs); however, recent studies have identified a new family of DAG acyltransferase enzymes that are unrelated to the ACAT gene family. Thus, nomenclature now distinguishes between the DAG acyltransferase enzymes that are related to the ACAT gene family (DGAT1 family) versus those that are unrelated (DGAT2 family) (Lardizabal et al., J. Biol. Chem. 276(42):38862-28869 (2001)). Members of the DGAT2 family appear to be present in all major phyla of eukaryotes (fungi, plants, animals, and basal eukaryotes).

[0137]Many genes encoding DGAT2 enzymes have been identified through genetic means and the DNA sequences of some of these genes are publicly available. For example, some non-limiting examples include the following GenBank Accession Numbers: NC.sub.--001147 (locus NP.sub.--014888; Saccharomyces cerevisiae); NM.sub.--012079 (human); NM.sub.--127503, AF051849 and AJ238008 (Arabidopsis thaliana); NM.sub.--026384, NM.sub.--010046 and AB057816 (mouse); AY093657 (pig); AB062762 (rat); AF221132 (Caenorhabditis elegans); AF391089 and AF391090 (Mortierella ramanniana); AF129003 (Nicotiana tabacum); and, AF251794 and AF164434 (Brassica napus). Additionally, the patent literature provides many additional DNA sequences of DGAT2 genes (and/or details concerning several of the genes above and their methods of isolation). See, for example: US 2003/124126 (Cases et al.); US 2003/115632, US2003/0028923 and US 2004/0107459 (Lardizabal et al.); and WO 2001/034814 (Banas et al.).

[0138]Despite disclosure of several complete and incomplete sequences encoding DGAT2 (supra), very few of these sequences have been shown to have DGAT2 activity. The exceptions include the work of: 1.) Bouvier-Nave, P. et al. (Biochem. Soc. Trans. 28(6):692-695 (2000)), wherein the DGAT2 of the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, leading to an increase in TAG content and in microsomal oleyl-CoA:DAG acyltransferase activity; and, 2.) Lardizabal et al. (supra; see also US 2003/0028923 A1 and US 2004/0107459 A1), wherein two DGAT2s of the fungus Mortierella ramanniana were expressed in insect cells, leading to high levels of DGAT activity on membranes isolated from those cells. In addition to these demonstrations where oil biosynthesis was increased by over-expression of DGAT2, disruption of the genes encoding DGAT2 have also been shown to result in a decrease in the cellular TAG content (Oelkers et al. J Biol. Chem. 277(11):8877-81 (2002); Sandager et al., J Biol. Chem. 277:6478-6482 (2002); Sorger and Daum. J. Bacteriol. 184:519-524 (2002)).

[0139]Genes Encoding PDAT

[0140]TAG synthesis can also occur in the absence of acyl-CoA, via the acyl-CoA-independent PDAT enzyme, as recently discovered by Dahlqvist et al. (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) 97:6487-6492 (2000)) and Oelkers et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 275:15609-15612 (2000)). Specifically, PDAT removes an acyl group from the sn-2 position of a phosphotidylcholine substrate for transfer to the sn-3 position of DAG to produce TAG; and, although the function of PDAT is not as well characterized as DGAT2, PDAT has been postulated to play a major role in removing "unusual" fatty acids from phospholipids in some oilseed plants (Banas, A. et al., Biochem. Soc. Trans. 28(6):703-705 (2000)).

[0141]PDAT is structurally related to the lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) family of proteins. Several genes encoding PDAT enzymes have been identified through genetic means and the DNA sequences of some of these genes are publicly available. For example, some non-limiting examples include the following GenBank Accession Numbers: P40345 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae); 094680 and NP.sub.--596330 (Schizosaccharomyces pombe); and, NP.sub.--190069 and AB006704 [gi:2351069] Arabidopsis thaliana). Additionally, the patent literature provides many additional DNA sequences of PDAT genes (and/or details concerning several of the genes above and their methods of isolation); see, for example, WO 2000/060095 (Dahlqvist et al.).

[0142]In a manner similar to DGAT2, over-expression of PDAT has been accomplished in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to increase oil biosynthesis. For example, over-expressing the S. cerevisiae LRO1 gene encoding PDAT resulted in an increased TAG content, confirming the involvement of this enzyme in TAG formation (Dahlqvist et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) 97:6487-6492 (2000); Oelkers et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275:15609-15612 (2000)). In contrast, deletion of the LRO1 gene was found to cause significant reduction of TAG synthesis (Oelkers et al., supra).

Biosynthesis of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

[0143]The metabolic process that converts LA to GLA, DGLA and ARA (the .omega.-6 pathway) and ALA to STA, ETA, EPA, DPA and DHA (the .omega.-3 pathway) involves elongation of the carbon chain through the addition of two-carbon units and desaturation of the molecule through the addition of double bonds (FIG. 2). This requires a series of desaturation and elongation enzymes. Specifically, oleic acid is converted to LA (18:2), the first of the .omega.-6 fatty acids, by the action of a .DELTA.12 desaturase. Subsequent .omega.-6 fatty acids are produced as follows: 1.) LA is converted to GLA by the activity of a .DELTA.6 desaturase; 2.) GLA is converted to DGLA by the action of an elongase; and 3.) DGLA is converted to ARA by the action of a .DELTA.5 desaturase. In like manner, linoleic acid (LA) is converted to ALA, the first of the .omega.-3 fatty acids, by the action of a .DELTA.15 desaturase. Subsequent (.omega.-3 fatty acids are produced in a series of steps similar to that for the (.omega.-6 fatty acids. Specifically, 1.) ALA is converted to STA by the activity of a .DELTA.6 desaturase; 2.) STA is converted to ETA by the activity of an elongase; and 3.) ETA is converted to EPA by the activity of a .DELTA.5 desaturase. Alternatively, ETA and EPA can be produced from DGLA and ARA, respectively, by the activity of a .DELTA.17 desaturase. EPA can be further converted to DHA by the activity of an elongase and a .DELTA.4 desaturase.

[0144]In alternate embodiments, a .DELTA.9 elongase is able to catalyze the conversion of LA and ALA to eicosadienoic acid (EDA; C20:2) and eicosatrienoic acid (ETrA; C20:3), respectively. A .DELTA.8 desaturase then converts these products to DGLA and ETA, respectively.

[0145]Many microorganisms, including algae, bacteria, molds, fungi and yeasts, can synthesize PUFAs and omega fatty acids in the ordinary course of cellular metabolism. Particularly well-studied are fungi including Schizochytrium aggregatm, species of the genus Thraustochytrium and Mortierella alpina. Additionally, many dinoflagellates (Dinophyceaae) naturally produce high concentrations of PUFAs. As such, a variety of desaturase and elongase genes involved in PUFA production have been identified through genetic means and the DNA sequences of some of these genes are publicly available (non-limiting examples are shown below in Table 2):

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Some Publicly Available Genes Involved In PUFA Production Genbank Accession No. Description AY131238 Argania spinosa .DELTA.6 desaturase Y055118 Echium pitardii var. pitardii .DELTA.6 desaturase AY055117 Echium gentianoides .DELTA.6 desaturase AF296076 Mucor rouxii .DELTA.6 desaturase AF007561 Borago officinalis .DELTA.6 desaturase L11421 Synechocystis sp. .DELTA.6 desaturase NM_031344 Rattus norvegicus .DELTA.6 fatty acid desaturase AF465283, Mortierella alpina .DELTA.6 fatty acid desaturase AF465281, AF110510 AF465282 Mortierella isabellina .DELTA.6 fatty acid desaturase AF419296 Pythium irregulare .DELTA.6 fatty acid desaturase AB052086 Mucor circinelloides D6d mRNA for .DELTA.6 fatty acid desaturase AJ250735 Ceratodon purpureus mRNA for .DELTA.6 fatty acid desaturase AF126799 Homo sapiens .DELTA.6 fatty acid desaturase AF126798 Mus musculus .DELTA.6 fatty acid desaturase AF199596, Homo sapiens .DELTA.5 desaturase AF226273 AF320509 Rattus norvegicus liver .DELTA.5 desaturase AB072976 Mus musculus D5D mRNA for .DELTA.5 desaturase AF489588 Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC21685 .DELTA.5 fatty acid desaturase AJ510244 Phytophthora megasperma mRNA for .DELTA.5 fatty acid desaturase AF419297 Pythium irregulare .DELTA.5 fatty acid desaturase AF07879 Caenorhabditis elegans .DELTA.5 fatty acid desaturase AF067654 Mortierella alpina .DELTA.5 fatty acid desaturase AB022097 Dictyostelium discoideum mRNA for .DELTA.5 fatty acid desaturase AF489589.1 Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC21685 .DELTA.4 fatty acid desaturase AAG36933 Emericella nidulans oleate .DELTA.12 desaturase AF110509 Mortierella alpina .DELTA.12 fatty acid desaturase mRNA AB020033 Mortierella alpina mRNA for .DELTA.12 fatty acid desaturase AAL13300 Mortierella alpina .DELTA.12 fatty acid desaturase AF417244 Mortierella alpina ATCC 16266 .DELTA.12 fatty acid desaturase gene AF161219 Mucor rouxii .DELTA.12 desaturase mRNA AY332747 Pavlova lutheri .DELTA.4 fatty acid desaturase (des1) mRNA AAG36933 Emericella nidulans oleate .DELTA.12 desaturase AF110509, Mortierella alpina .DELTA.12 fatty acid desaturase mRNA AB020033 AAL13300 Mortierella alpina .DELTA.12 fatty acid desaturase AF417244 Mortierella alpina ATCC 16266 .DELTA.12 fatty acid desaturase AF161219 Mucor rouxii .DELTA.12 desaturase mRNA X86736 Spiruline platensis .DELTA.12 desaturase AF240777 Caenorhabditis elegans .DELTA.12 desaturase AB007640 Chlamydomonas reinhardtii .DELTA.12 desaturase AB075526 Chlorella vulgaris .DELTA.12 desaturase AP002063 Arabidopsis thaliana microsomal .DELTA.12 desaturase NP_441622, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 .DELTA.15 desaturase BAA18302, BAA02924 AAL36934 Perilla frutescens .DELTA.15 desaturase AF338466 Acheta domesticus .DELTA.9 desaturase 3 mRNA AF438199 Picea glauca desaturase .DELTA.9 (Des9) mRNA E11368 Anabaena .DELTA.9 desaturase E11367 Synechocystis .DELTA.9 desaturase D83185 Pichia angusta DNA for .DELTA.9 fatty acid desaturase U90417 Synechococcus vulcanus .DELTA.9 acyl-lipid fatty acid desaturase (desC) gene AF085500 Mortierella alpina .DELTA.9 desaturase mRNA AY504633 Emericella nidulans .DELTA.9 stearic acid desaturase (sdeB) gene NM_069854 Caenorhabditis elegans essential fatty acid desaturase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase (39.1 kD) (fat-6) complete mRNA AF230693 Brassica oleracea cultivar Rapid Cycling stearoyl-ACP desaturase (.DELTA.9-BO-1) gene, exon sequence AX464731 Mortierella alpina elongase gene (also WO 02/08401) NM_119617 Arabidopsis thaliana fatty acid elongase 1 (FAE1) (At4g34520) mRNA NM_134255 Mus musculus ELOVL family member 5, elongation of long chain fatty acids (yeast) (Elovl5), mRNA NM_134383 Rattus norvegicus fatty acid elongase 2 (rELO2), mRNA NM_134382 Rattus norvegicus fatty acid elongase 1 (rELO1), mRNA NM_068396, Caenorhabditis elegans fatty acid ELOngation (elo-6), NM_068392, (elo-5), (elo-2), (elo-3), and (elo-9) mRNA NM_070713, NM_068746, NM_064685

[0146]Additionally, the patent literature provides many additional DNA sequences of genes (and/or details concerning several of the genes above and their methods of isolation) involved in PUFA production. See, for example: U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,809 (.DELTA.6 desaturases); U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,664 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,183 (.DELTA.5 desaturases); WO 91/13972 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,419 (.DELTA.9 desaturases); WO 93/11245 (.DELTA.15 desaturases); WO 94/11516, U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,974 and WO 03/099216 (.DELTA.12 desaturases); WO 00/12720 and U.S. 2002/0139974.DELTA.1 (elongases); U.S. 2003/0196217 A1 (.DELTA.17 desaturase); WO 00/34439 (.DELTA.8 desaturases); and, WO 02/090493 (.DELTA.4 desaturases). Each of these patents and applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0147]Depending upon the host cell, the availability of substrate, and the desired end product(s), several desaturases and elongases are of interest for use in production of PUFAs. Considerations for choosing a specific polypeptide having desaturase or elongase activity include: 1.) the substrate specificity of the polypeptide; 2.) whether the polypeptide or a component thereof is a rate-limiting enzyme; 3.) whether the desaturase or elongase is essential for synthesis of a desired PUFA; and/or 4.) co-factors required by the polypeptide. The expressed polypeptide preferably has parameters compatible with the biochemical environment of its location in the host cell. For example, the polypeptide may have to compete for substrate with other enzymes in the host cell. Analyses of the KM and specific activity of the polypeptide are therefore considered in determining the suitability of a given polypeptide for modifying PUFA production in a given host cell. The polypeptide used in a particular host cell is one that can function under the biochemical conditions present in the intended host cell but otherwise can be any polypeptide having desaturase or elongase activity capable of modifying the desired fatty acid substrate.

Sequence Identification of Yarrowia lipolytica DGAT2 and PDAT Acyltransferases

[0148]Despite the availability of several genes encoding DGAT2 and PDAT (supra) which could be used for heterologous expression in oleaginous yeast (e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica), expression of a native enzyme is preferred over a heterologous (or "foreign") enzyme whenever possible. This preference occurs because: 1.) the native enzyme is optimized for interaction with other enzymes and proteins in the cell; and 2.) heterologous genes are unlikely to share the same codon preference in the host organism. Knowledge of the sequences of a host organism's native PDAT and DGAT2 genes also facilitates disruption of the homologous chromosomal genes by targeted disruption. And, as the present invention has shown, disruption of one or more of an organism's acyltransferases (e.g., PDAT, DGAT2), when at least one acyltransferase remains functional, can result in altered oil content.

[0149]Comparison of the PDAT nucleotide base (SEQ ID NO:45) and deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO:46) sequences to some public databases reveals that the most similar known sequences are about 47.1% identical to the amino acid sequence of PDAT reported herein over a length of 648 amino acids using the Clustal W method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp, CABIOS. 5:151-153 (1989)). More preferred amino acid fragments are at least about 70%-80% identical to the sequences herein, where those sequences that are 85%-90% identical are particularly suitable and those sequences that are about 95% identical are most preferred. Similarly, preferred PDAT encoding nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the instant ORF are those encoding active proteins and which are at least about 70%-80% identical to the nucleic acid sequences encoding PDAT reported herein, where those sequences that are 85%-90% identical are particularly suitable and those sequences that are about 95% identical are most preferred.

[0150]Comparison of the DGAT2 nucleotide base (SEQ ID NO:30) and deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO:79) sequences to some public databases reveals that the most similar known sequences are about 38.4% identical to the amino acid sequence of DGAT2 reported herein over a length of 355 amino acids using the Clustal W method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp, supra). More preferred amino acid fragments are at least about 70%-80% identical to the sequences herein, where those sequences that are 85%-90% identical are particularly suitable and those sequences that are about 95% identical are most preferred. Similarly, preferred DGAT2 encoding nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the instant ORF are those encoding active proteins and which are at least about 70%-80% identical to the nucleic acid sequences encoding DGAT2 reported herein, where those sequences that are 85%-90% identical are particularly suitable and those sequences that are about 95% identical are most preferred.

Isolation of Homologs

[0151]Each of the acyltransferase nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to isolate genes encoding homologous proteins from the same or other microbial species. Isolation of homologous genes using sequence-dependent protocols is well known in the art. Examples of sequence-dependent protocols include, but are not limited to: 1.) methods of nucleic acid hybridization; 2.) methods of DNA and RNA amplification, as exemplified by various uses of nucleic acid amplification technologies [e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Mullis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202; ligase chain reaction (LCR), Tabor, S. et al., Proc. Acad. Sci. USA 82:1074 (1985); or strand displacement amplification (SDA), Walker, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 89:392 (1992)]; and 3.) methods of library construction and screening by complementation.

[0152]For example, genes encoding similar proteins or polypeptides to the acyltransferases described herein could be isolated directly by using all or a portion of the instant nucleic acid fragments as DNA hybridization probes to screen libraries from any desired yeast or fungus using methodology well known to those skilled in the art. Specific oligonucleotide probes based upon the instant nucleic acid sequences can be designed and synthesized by methods known in the art (Maniatis, supra). Moreover, the entire sequences can be used directly to synthesize DNA probes by methods known to the skilled artisan (e.g., random primers DNA labeling, nick translation or end-labeling techniques), or RNA probes using available in vitro transcription systems. In addition, specific primers can be designed and used to amplify a part of (or full-length of) the instant sequences. The resulting amplification products can be labeled directly during amplification reactions or labeled after amplification reactions, and used as probes to isolate full-length DNA fragments under conditions of appropriate stringency.

[0153]Typically, in PCR-type amplification techniques, the primers have different sequences and are not complementary to each other. Depending on the desired test conditions, the sequences of the primers should be designed to provide for both efficient and faithful replication of the target nucleic acid. Methods of PCR primer design are common and well known in the art (Thein and Wallace, "The use of oligonucleotides as specific hybridization probes in the Diagnosis of Genetic Disorders", in Human Genetic Diseases: A Practical Approach, K. E. Davis Ed., (1986) pp 33-50, IRL: Herndon, Va.; and Rychlik, W., In Methods in Molecular Biology, White, B. A. Ed., (1993) Vol. 15, pp 31-39, PCR Protocols: Current Methods and Applications. Humania: Totowa, N.J.).

[0154]Generally two short segments of the instant sequences may be used in polymerase chain reaction protocols to amplify longer nucleic acid fragments encoding homologous genes from DNA or RNA. The polymerase chain reaction may also be performed on a library of cloned nucleic acid fragments wherein the sequence of one primer is derived from the instant nucleic acid fragments, and the sequence of the other primer takes advantage of the presence of the polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3' end of the mRNA precursor encoding microbial genes.

[0155]Alternatively, the second primer sequence may be based upon sequences derived from the cloning vector. For example, the skilled artisan can follow the RACE protocol (Frohman et al., PNAS USA 85:8998 (1988)) to generate cDNAs by using PCR to amplify copies of the region between a single point in the transcript and the 3' or 5' end. Primers oriented in the 3' and 5' directions can be designed from the instant sequences. Using commercially available 3' RACE or 5' RACE systems (BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.), specific 3' or 5' cDNA fragments can be isolated (Ohara et al., PNAS USA 86:5673 (1989); Loh et al., Science 243:217 (1989)).

[0156]Alternatively, the instant acyltransferase sequences may be employed as hybridization reagents for the identification of homologs. The basic components of a nucleic acid hybridization test include a probe, a sample suspected of containing the gene or gene fragment of interest, and a specific hybridization method. Probes of the present invention are typically single-stranded nucleic acid sequences that are complementary to the nucleic acid sequences to be detected. Probes are "hybridizable" to the nucleic acid sequence to be detected. The probe length can vary from 5 bases to tens of thousands of bases, and will depend upon the specific test to be done. Typically a probe length of about 15 bases to about 30 bases is suitable. Only part of the probe molecule need be complementary to the nucleic acid sequence to be detected. In addition, the complementarity between the probe and the target sequence need not be perfect. Hybridization does occur between imperfectly complementary molecules with the result that a certain fraction of the bases in the hybridized region are not paired with the proper complementary base.

[0157]Hybridization methods are well defined. Typically the probe and sample must be mixed under conditions that will permit nucleic acid hybridization. This involves contacting the probe and sample in the presence of an inorganic or organic salt under the proper concentration and temperature conditions. The probe and sample nucleic acids must be in contact for a long enough time that any possible hybridization between the probe and sample nucleic acid may occur. The concentration of probe or target in the mixture will determine the time necessary for hybridization to occur. The higher the probe or target concentration, the shorter the hybridization incubation time needed. Optionally, a chaotropic agent may be added. The chaotropic agent stabilizes nucleic acids by inhibiting nuclease activity. Furthermore, the chaotropic agent allows sensitive and stringent hybridization of short oligonucleotide probes at room temperature (Van Ness and Chen, Nucl. Acids Res. 19:5143-5151 (1991)). Suitable chaotropic agents include guanidinium chloride, guanidinium thiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate, lithium tetrachloroacetate, sodium perchlorate, rubidium tetrachloroacetate, potassium iodide and cesium trifluoroacetate, among others. Typically, the chaotropic agent will be present at a final concentration of about 3 M. If desired, one can add formamide to the hybridization mixture, typically 30-50% (v/v).

[0158]Various hybridization solutions can be employed. Typically, these comprise from about 20 to 60% volume, preferably 30%, of a polar organic solvent. A common hybridization solution employs about 30-50% v/v formamide, about 0.15 to 1 M sodium chloride, about 0.05 to 0.1 M buffers (e.g., sodium citrate, Tris-HCl, PIPES or HEPES (pH range about 6-9)), about 0.05 to 0.2% detergent (e.g., sodium dodecylsulfate), or between 0.5-20 mM EDTA, FICOLL (Pharmacia Inc.) (about 300-500 kdal), polyvinylpyrrolidone (about 250-500 kdal) and serum albumin. Also included in the typical hybridization solution will be unlabeled carrier nucleic acids from about 0.1 to 5 mg/mL, fragmented nucleic DNA (e.g., calf thymus or salmon sperm DNA, or yeast RNA), and optionally from about 0.5 to 2% wt/vol glycine. Other additives may also be included, such as volume exclusion agents that include a variety of polar water-soluble or swellable agents (e.g., polyethylene glycol), anionic polymers (e.g., polyacrylate or polymethylacrylate) and anionic saccharidic polymers (e.g., dextran sulfate).

[0159]Nucleic acid hybridization is adaptable to a variety of assay formats. One of the most suitable is the sandwich assay format. The sandwich assay is particularly adaptable to hybridization under non-denaturing conditions. A primary component of a sandwich-type assay is a solid support. The solid support has adsorbed to it or covalently coupled to it immobilized nucleic acid probe that is unlabeled and complementary to one portion of the sequence.

[0160]Availability of the instant nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences facilitates immunological screening of DNA expression libraries. Synthetic peptides representing portions of the instant amino acid sequences may be synthesized. These peptides can be used to immunize animals to produce polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies with specificity for peptides or proteins comprising the amino acid sequences. These antibodies can then be used to screen DNA expression libraries to isolate full-length DNA clones of interest (Lerner, R. A. Adv. Immunol. 36:1 (1984); Maniatis, supra).

Gene Optimization for Improved Heterologous Expression

[0161]It may be desirable to modify the expression of particular acyltransferases and/or PUFA biosynthetic pathway enzymes to achieve optimal conversion efficiency of each, according to the specific TAG composition of interest. As such, a variety of techniques can be utilized to improve/optimize the expression of a polypeptide of interest in an alternative host. Two such techniques include codon-optimization and mutagenesis of the gene.

[0162]Codon Optimization

[0163]For the purposes of the present invention, it may be desirable to modify a portion of the codons encoding polypeptides having acyltransferase activity, for example, to enhance the expression of genes encoding those polypeptides in an alternate host (i.e., an oleaginous yeast other than Yarrowia lipolytica). In general, host-preferred codons can be determined within a particular host species of interest by examining codon usage in proteins (preferably those expressed in the largest amount) and determining which codons are used with highest frequency. Thus, the coding sequence for a polypeptide having acyltransferase activity can be synthesized in whole or in part using the codons preferred in the host species. All (or portions) of the DNA also can be synthesized to remove any destabilizing sequences or regions of secondary structure that would be present in the transcribed mRNA. All (or portions) of the DNA also can be synthesized to alter the base composition to one more preferable in the desired host cell.

[0164]Mutagenesis

[0165]Methods for synthesizing sequences and bringing sequences together are well established in the literature. For example, in vitro mutagenesis and selection, site-directed mutagenesis, error prone PCR (Melnikov et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 27(4):1056-1062 (Feb. 15, 1999)), "gene shuffling" or other means can be employed to obtain mutations of naturally occurring acyltransferase genes. This would permit production of a polypeptide having acyltransferase activity in vivo with more desirable physical and kinetic parameters for function in the host cell (e.g., a longer half-life or a higher rate of synthesis of TAGs from fatty acids).

[0166]If desired, the regions of an acyltransferase polypeptide important for enzymatic activity can be determined through routine mutagenesis, expression of the resulting mutant polypeptides and determination of their activities. Mutants may include deletions, insertions and point mutations, or combinations thereof. A typical functional analysis begins with deletion mutagenesis to determine the N- and C-terminal limits of the protein necessary for function, and then internal deletions, insertions or point mutants are made to further determine regions necessary for function. Other techniques such as cassette mutagenesis or total synthesis also can be used. Deletion mutagenesis is accomplished, for example, by using exonucleases to sequentially remove the 5' or 3' coding regions. Kits are available for such techniques. After deletion, the coding region is completed by ligating oligonucleotides containing start or stop codons to the deleted coding region after the 5' or 3' deletion, respectively. Alternatively, oligonucleotides encoding start or stop codons are inserted into the coding region by a variety of methods including site-directed mutagenesis, mutagenic PCR or by ligation onto DNA digested at existing restriction sites. Internal deletions can similarly be made through a variety of methods including the use of existing restriction sites in the DNA, by use of mutagenic primers via site-directed mutagenesis or mutagenic PCR. Insertions are made through methods such as linker-scanning mutagenesis, site-directed mutagenesis or mutagenic PCR. Point mutations are made through techniques such as site-directed mutagenesis or mutagenic PCR.

[0167]Chemical mutagenesis also can be used for identifying regions of an acyltransferase polypeptide important for activity. A mutated construct is expressed, and the ability of the resulting altered protein to function as an acyltransferase is assayed. Such structure-function analysis can determine which regions may be deleted, which regions tolerate insertions, and which point mutations allow the mutant protein to function in substantially the same way as the native acyltransferase.

[0168]All such mutant proteins and nucleotide sequences encoding them that are derived from the acyltransferase genes described herein are within the scope of the present invention.

Microbial Production of Fatty Acids and Triacyglycerols

[0169]Microbial production of fatty acids and TAGs has several advantages over purification from natural sources such as fish or plants. For example: [0170]1.) Many microbes are known with greatly simplified oil compositions compared with those of higher organisms, making purification of desired components easier; [0171]2.) Microbial production is not subject to fluctuations caused by external variables, such as weather and food supply; [0172]3.) Microbially produced oil is substantially free of contamination by environmental pollutants; and, [0173]4.) Microbial oil production can be manipulated by controlling culture conditions, notably by providing particular substrates for microbially expressed enzymes, or by addition of compounds or genetic engineering approaches to suppress undesired biochemical pathways.With respect to the production of .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 fatty acids in particular, and TAGs containing those PUFAs, additional advantages are incurred since microbes can provide fatty acids in particular forms that may have specific uses; and, recombinant microbes provide the ability to alter the naturally occurring microbial fatty acid profile by providing new biosynthetic pathways in the host or by suppressing undesired pathways, thereby increasing levels of desired PUFAs, or conjugated forms thereof, and decreasing levels of undesired PUFAs.

[0174]Thus, knowledge of the sequences of the present acyltransferase genes will be useful for manipulating fatty acid biosynthesis and accumulation in oleaginous yeasts, and particularly, in Yarrowia lipolytica. This may require metabolic engineering directly within the fatty acid or TAG biosynthetic pathways or additional manipulation of pathways that contribute carbon to the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. Methods useful for manipulating biochemical pathways are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0175]Metabolic Engineering to Up-Regulate Genes and Biosynthetic Pathways Affecting Fatty Acid Synthesis and Oil Accumulation in Oleaginous Yeast

[0176]It is expected that introduction of chimeric genes encoding the acyltransferases described herein, under the control of the appropriate promoters, will result in increased transfer of fatty acids to storage TAGs. As such, the present invention encompasses a method for increasing the TAG content in an oleaginous yeast comprising expressing at least one acyltransferase enzyme of the present invention in a transformed oleaginous yeast host cell producing a fatty acid, such that the fatty acid is transferred to the TAG pool.

[0177]Additional copies of acyltransferase genes may be introduced into the host to increase the transfer of fatty acids to the TAG fraction. Expression of the genes also can be increased at the transcriptional level through the use of a stronger promoter (either regulated or constitutive) to cause increased expression, by removing/deleting destabilizing sequences from either the mRNA or the encoded protein, or by adding stabilizing sequences to the mRNA (U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,141). Yet another approach to increase expression of heterologous genes is to increase the translational efficiency of the encoded mRNAs by replacement of codons in the native gene with those for optimal gene expression in the selected host microorganism.

[0178]In one specific embodiment, the present invention encompasses a method of increasing the .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 fatty acid content of TAGs in an oleaginous yeast, since it is possible to introduce an expression cassette encoding each of the enzymes necessary for .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 fatty acid biosynthesis into the organism (since naturally produced PUFAs in these organisms are limited to 18:2 (i.e., LA), and less commonly 18:3 (i.e., ALA) fatty acids). Thus, the method comprises: [0179]a) providing a transformed oleaginous yeast host cell (possessing at least one gene encoding at least one enzyme of the .omega.-3/.omega.-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway and at least one acyltransferase enzyme of the present invention); [0180]b) growing the yeast cells of step (a) in the presence of a fermentable carbon substrate, whereby the gene(s) of the .omega.-3/.omega.-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway and the acyltransferase(s) are expressed, whereby a .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 fatty acid is produced, and whereby the .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 fatty acid is transferred to TAGs.

[0181]A variety of PUFA products can be produced (prior to their transfer to TAGs), depending on the fatty acid substrate and the particular genes of the .omega.-3/.omega.-6 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway that are transformed into the host cell. As such, production of the desired fatty acid product can occur directly (wherein the fatty acid substrate is converted directly into the desired fatty acid product without any intermediate steps or pathway intermediates) or indirectly (wherein multiple genes encoding the PUFA biosynthetic pathway may be used in combination, such that a series of reactions occur to produce a desired PUFA). Specifically, for example, it may be desirable to transform an oleaginous yeast with an expression cassette comprising a .DELTA.12 desaturase, .DELTA.6 desaturase, a high-affinity elongase, a .DELTA.5 desaturase and a .DELTA.17 desaturase for the overproduction of EPA. As is well known to one skilled in the art, various other combinations of the following enzymatic activities may be useful to express in a host in conjunction with the acyltransferases described herein: a .DELTA.15 desaturase, a .DELTA.4 desaturase, a .DELTA.5 desaturase, a .DELTA.6 desaturase, a .DELTA.17 desaturase, a .DELTA.9 desaturase, a .DELTA.8 desaturase and/or an elongase (see FIG. 2). The particular genes included within a particular expression cassette will depend on the host cell (and its PUFA profile and/or desaturase profile), the availability of substrate and the desired end product(s).

[0182]Thus, within the context of the present invention, it may be useful to modulate the expression of the TAG biosynthetic pathway by any one of the methods described above. For example, the present invention provides genes encoding key enzymes in the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway leading to the storage of TAGs. These genes encode the PDAT and DGAT2 enzymes. It will be particularly useful to modify the expression levels of these genes in oleaginous yeasts to maximize production and accumulation of TAGs using various means for metabolic engineering of the host organism. In preferred embodiments, modification of the expression levels for these genes in combination with expression of .omega.-3/.omega.-6 biosynthetic genes can be utilized to maximize production and accumulation of preferred PUFAs in the TAG pool.

[0183]Metabolic Engineering to Down-Regulate Undesirable Genes and Biosynthetic Pathways Affecting Fatty Acid Synthesis and Oil Accumulation in Oleaginous Yeast

[0184]In some embodiments, it may be useful to disrupt or inactivate a host organism's native acyltransferase(s), based on the complete sequences described herein, the complement of those complete sequences, substantial portions of those sequences, codon-optimized desaturases derived therefrom, and those sequences that are substantially homologous thereto. For example, the targeted disruption of the DGAT2 acyltransferase, PDAT acyltransferase, and DGAT2 and PDAT acyltransferases (as a double knockout) described herein in Yarrowia lipolytica produced mutant strains that each had different reduced levels of oil production (Example 5).

[0185]For gene disruption, a foreign DNA fragment (typically a selectable marker gene) is inserted into the structural gene to be disrupted in order to interrupt its coding sequence and thereby functionally inactivate the gene. Transformation of the disruption cassette into the host cell results in replacement of the functional native gene by homologous recombination with the non-functional disrupted gene (see, for example: Hamilton et al., J. Bacteriol. 171:4617-4622 (1989); Balbas et al., Gene 136:211-213 (1993); Gueldener et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 24:2519-2524 (1996); and Smith et al., Methods Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:270-277 (1996)).

[0186]Antisense technology is another method of down-regulating genes when the sequence of the target gene is known. To accomplish this, a nucleic acid segment from the desired gene is cloned and operably linked to a promoter such that the anti-sense strand of RNA will be transcribed. This construct is then introduced into the host cell and the antisense strand of RNA is produced. Antisense RNA inhibits gene expression by preventing the accumulation of mRNA that encodes the protein of interest. The person skilled in the art will know that special considerations are associated with the use of antisense technologies in order to reduce expression of particular genes. For example, the proper level of expression of antisense genes may require the use of different chimeric genes utilizing different regulatory elements known to the skilled artisan.

[0187]Although targeted gene disruption and antisense technology offer effective means of down-regulating genes where the sequence is known, other less specific methodologies have been developed that are not sequence-based. For example, cells may be exposed to UV radiation and then screened for the desired phenotype. Mutagenesis with chemical agents is also effective for generating mutants and commonly used substances include chemicals that affect nonreplicating DNA (e.g., HNO.sub.2 and NH.sub.2OH), as well as agents that affect replicating DNA (e.g., acridine dyes, notable for causing frameshift mutations). Specific methods for creating mutants using radiation or chemical agents are well documented in the art. See, for example: Thomas D. Brock in Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology, 2.sup.nd ed. (1989) Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, Mass.; or Deshpande, Mukund V., Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol., 36:227 (1992).

[0188]Another non-specific method of gene disruption is the use of transposable elements or transposons. Transposons are genetic elements that insert randomly into DNA but can be later retrieved on the basis of sequence to determine where the insertion has occurred. Both in vivo and in vitro transposition methods are known. Both methods involve the use of a transposable element in combination with a transposase enzyme. When the transposable element or transposon is contacted with a nucleic acid fragment in the presence of the transposase, the transposable element will randomly insert into the nucleic acid fragment. The technique is useful for random mutagenesis and for gene isolation, since the disrupted gene may be identified on the basis of the sequence of the transposable element. Kits for in vitro transposition are commercially available [see, for example:

1.) The Primer Island Transposition Kit, available from Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems, Branchburg, N.J., based upon the yeast Ty1 element;2.) The Genome Priming System, available from New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass., based upon the bacterial transposon Tn7; and 3.) the EZ::TN Transposon Insertion Systems, available from Epicentre Technologies, Madison, Wis., based upon the Tn5 bacterial transposable element].

[0189]Thus, within the context of the present invention, it may be useful to disrupt one of the acyltransferase genes of the invention. For example, it may be necessary to disrupt genes and pathways that diminish the existing fatty acid pool and/or that hydrolyze TAGs to regulate (and/or maximize) TAG accumulation.

Expression Systems, Cassettes and Vectors

[0190]The genes and gene products of the instant sequences described herein may be produced in microbial host cells, particularly in the cells of oleaginous yeasts (e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica). Expression in recombinant microbial hosts may be useful for the transfer of various fatty acids to TAGs.

[0191]Microbial expression systems and expression vectors containing regulatory sequences that direct high level expression of foreign proteins are well known to those skilled in the art. Any of these could be used to construct chimeric genes for production of any of the gene products of the instant sequences. These chimeric genes could then be introduced into appropriate microorganisms via transformation to provide high level expression of the encoded enzymes.

[0192]Vectors or DNA cassettes useful for the transformation of suitable host cells are well known in the art. The specific choice of sequences present in the construct is dependent upon the desired expression products (supra), the nature of the host cell and the proposed means of separating transformed cells versus non-transformed cells. Typically, however, the vector or cassette contains sequences directing transcription and translation of the relevant gene(s), a selectable marker and sequences allowing autonomous replication or chromosomal integration. Suitable vectors comprise a region 5' of the gene that controls transcriptional initiation and a region 3' of the DNA fragment that controls transcriptional termination. It is most preferred when both control regions are derived from genes from the transformed host cell, although it is to be understood that such control regions need not be derived from the genes native to the specific species chosen as a production host.

[0193]Initiation control regions or promoters which are useful to drive expression of the instant ORFs in the desired host cell are numerous and familiar to those skilled in the art. Virtually any promoter capable of directing expression of these genes in the selected host cell is suitable for the present invention. Expression in a host cell can be accomplished in a transient or stable fashion. Transient expression can be accomplished by inducing the activity of a regulatable promoter operably linked to the gene of interest. Stable expression can be achieved by the use of a constitutive promoter operably linked to the gene of interest. As an example, when the host cell is yeast, transcriptional and translational regions functional in yeast cells are provided, particularly from the host species. The transcriptional initiation regulatory regions can be obtained, for example, from: 1.) genes in the glycolytic pathway, such as alcohol dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (see U.S. Patent Application No. 60/482,263, incorporated herein by reference), phosphoglycerate mutase (see U.S. Patent Application No. 60/482,263, incorporated herein by reference), fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (see U.S. Patent Application No. 60/519,971, incorporated herein by reference), phosphoglucose-isomerase, phosphoglycerate kinase, etc.; or, 2.) regulatable genes such as acid phosphatase, lactase, metallothionein, glucoamylase, the translation elongation factor EF1-.alpha. (TEF) protein (U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,185), ribosomal protein S7 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,185), etc. Any one of a number of regulatory sequences can be used, depending upon whether constitutive or induced transcription is desired, the efficiency of the promoter in expressing the ORF of interest, the ease of construction and the like.

[0194]Nucleotide sequences surrounding the translational initiation codon `ATG` have been found to affect expression in yeast cells. If the desired polypeptide is poorly expressed in yeast, the nucleotide sequences of exogenous genes can be modified to include an efficient yeast translation initiation sequence to obtain optimal gene expression. For expression in yeast, this can be done by site-directed mutagenesis of an inefficiently expressed gene by fusing it in-frame to an endogenous yeast gene, preferably a highly expressed gene. Alternatively, one can determine the consensus translation initiation sequence in the host and engineer this sequence into heterologous genes for their optimal expression in the host of interest.

[0195]The termination region can be derived from the 3' region of the gene from which the initiation region was obtained or from a different gene. A large number of termination regions are known and function satisfactorily in a variety of hosts (when utilized both in the same and different genera and species from where they were derived). The termination region usually is selected more as a matter of convenience rather than because of any particular property. Preferably, the termination region is derived from a yeast gene, particularly Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Candida, Yarrowia or Kluyveromyces. The 3'-regions of mammalian genes encoding .gamma.-interferon and .alpha.-2 interferon are also known to function in yeast. Termination control regions may also be derived from various genes native to the preferred hosts. Optionally, a termination site may be unnecessary; however, it is most preferred if included.

[0196]As one of skill in the art is aware, merely inserting a gene into a cloning vector does not ensure that it will be successfully expressed at the level needed. In response to the need for a high expression rate, many specialized expression vectors have been created by manipulating a number of different genetic elements that control aspects of transcription, translation, protein stability, oxygen limitation and secretion from the host cell. More specifically, some of the molecular features that have been manipulated to control gene expression include: 1.) the nature of the relevant transcriptional promoter and terminator sequences; 2.) the number of copies of the cloned gene and whether the gene is plasmid-borne or integrated into the genome of the host cell; 3.) the final cellular location of the synthesized foreign protein; 4.) the efficiency of translation in the host organism; 5.) the intrinsic stability of the cloned gene protein within the host cell; and 6.) the codon usage within the cloned gene, such that its frequency approaches the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell. Each of these types of modifications are encompassed in the present invention, as means to further optimize expression of the acyltransferase enzymes.

Preferred Microbial Hosts for Recombinant Expression of Acyltransferases

[0197]Host cells for expression of the instant genes and nucleic acid fragments may include microbial hosts that grow on a variety of feedstocks, including simple or complex carbohydrates, organic acids and alcohols and/or hydrocarbons over a wide range of temperature and pH values. Although the genes described in the instant invention have been isolated for expression in an oleaginous yeast, and in particular Yarrowia lipolytica, it is contemplated that because transcription, translation and the protein biosynthetic apparatus is highly conserved, any bacteria, yeast, algae and/or filamentous fungus will be a suitable host for expression of the present nucleic acid fragments.

[0198]Preferred microbial hosts are oleaginous organisms, such as oleaginous yeasts. These oleaginous organisms are naturally capable of oil synthesis and accumulation, wherein the total oil content can comprise greater than about 25% of the cellular dry weight, more preferably greater than about 30% of the cellular dry weight and most preferably greater than about 40% of the cellular dry weight. Additionally, there is basis for the use of these organisms for the production of PFUA's as seen in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/840,579, herein incorporated entirely by reference.

[0199]Genera typically identified as oleaginous yeast include, but are not limited to: Yarrowia, Candida, Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Lipomyces. More specifically, illustrative oil-synthesizing yeasts include: Rhodosporidium toruloides, Lipomyces starkeyii, L. lipoferus, Candida revkaufi, C. pulcherrima, C. tropicalis, C. utilis, Trichosporon pullans, T. cutaneum, Rhodotorula glutinus, R. graminis, and Yarrowia lipolytica (formerly classified as Candida lipolytica).

[0200]Most preferred is the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica; and, in a further embodiment, most preferred are the Y. lipolytica strains designated as ATCC #20362, ATCC #8862, ATCC #18944, ATCC #76982, ATCC #90812 and/or LGAM S(7)1 (Papanikolaou S., and Aggelis G., Bioresour. Technol. 82(1):43-9 (2002)).

Transformation of Microbial Hosts

[0201]Once the DNA encoding a polypeptide suitable for expression in an oleaginous yeast has been obtained, it is placed in a plasmid vector capable of autonomous replication in a host cell or it is directly integrated into the genome of the host cell. Integration of expression cassettes can occur randomly within the host genome or can be targeted through the use of constructs containing regions of homology with the host genome sufficient to target recombination within the host locus. Where constructs are targeted to an endogenous locus, all or some of the transcriptional and translational regulatory regions can be provided by the endogenous locus.

[0202]Where two or more genes are expressed from separate replicating vectors, it is desirable that each vector has a different means of selection and should lack homology to the other construct(s) to maintain stable expression and prevent reassortment of elements among constructs. Judicious choice of regulatory regions, selection means and method of propagation of the introduced construct(s) can be experimentally determined so that all introduced genes are expressed at the necessary levels to provide for synthesis of the desired products.

[0203]Constructs comprising the gene of interest may be introduced into a host cell by any standard technique. These techniques include transformation (e.g., lithium acetate transformation [Methods in Enzymology, 194:186-187 (1991)]), protoplast fusion, biolistic impact, electroporation, microinjection, or any other method that introduces the gene of interest into the host cell. More specific teachings applicable for oleaginous yeasts (i.e., Yarrowia lipolytica) include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,880,741 and 5,071,764 and Chen, D. C. et al. (Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 48(2):232-235-(1997)).

[0204]For convenience, a host cell that has been manipulated by any method to take up a DNA sequence (e.g., an expression cassette) will be referred to as "transformed" or "recombinant" herein. The transformed host will have at least one copy of the expression construct and may have two or more, depending upon whether the gene is integrated into the genome, amplified or is present on an extrachromosomal element having multiple copy numbers. The transformed host cell can be identified by selection for a marker contained on the introduced construct. Alternatively, a separate marker construct may be co-transformed with the desired construct, as many transformation techniques introduce many DNA molecules into host cells. Typically, transformed hosts are selected for their ability to grow on selective media. Selective media may incorporate an antibiotic or lack a factor necessary for growth of the untransformed host, such as a nutrient or growth factor. An introduced marker gene may confer antibiotic resistance, or encode an essential growth factor or enzyme, thereby permitting growth on selective media when expressed in the transformed host. Selection of a transformed host can also occur when the expressed marker protein can be detected, either directly or indirectly. The marker protein may be expressed alone or as a fusion to another protein. The marker protein can be detected by: 1.) its enzymatic activity (e.g., .beta.-galactosidase can convert the substrate X-gal [5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-.beta.-D-galactopyranoside] to a colored product; luciferase can convert luciferin to a light-emitting product); or 2.) its light-producing or modifying characteristics (e.g., the green fluorescent protein of Aequorea victoria fluoresces when illuminated with blue light). Alternatively, antibodies can be used to detect the marker protein or a molecular tag on, for example, a protein of interest. Cells expressing the marker protein or tag can be selected, for example, visually, or by techniques such as FACS or panning using antibodies. For selection of yeast transformants, any marker that functions in yeast may be used. Desirably, resistance to kanamycin, hygromycin and the amino glycoside G418 are of interest, as well as ability to grow on media lacking uracil or leucine.

[0205]Following transformation, substrates suitable for the gene products of the instant sequences (and optionally other PUFA enzymes that are expressed within the host cell), may be produced by the host either naturally or transgenically, or they may be provided exogenously.

Fermentation Processes for Triacylglycerol Biosynthesis and Accumulation

[0206]The transformed microbial host cell is grown under conditions that optimize activity of fatty acid biosynthetic genes and acyltransferase genes. This leads to production of the greatest and the most economical yield of fatty acids, which can in turn be transferred to TAGs for storage. In general, media conditions that may be optimized include the type and amount of carbon source, the type and amount of nitrogen source, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, the oxygen level, growth temperature, pH, length of the biomass production phase, length of the oil accumulation phase and the time of cell harvest. Microorganisms of interest, such as oleaginous yeast, are grown in complex media (e.g., yeast extract-peptone-dextrose broth (YPD)) or a defined minimal media that lacks a component necessary for growth and thereby forces selection of the desired expression cassettes (e.g., Yeast Nitrogen Base (DIFCO Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.)).

[0207]Fermentation media in the present invention must contain a suitable carbon source. Suitable carbon sources may include, but are not limited to: monosaccharides (e.g., glucose, fructose), disaccharides (e.g., lactose, sucrose), oligosaccharides, polysaccharides (e.g., starch, cellulose or mixtures thereof), sugar alcohols (e.g., glycerol) or mixtures from renewable feedstocks (e.g., cheese whey permeate, cornsteep liquor, sugar beet molasses, barley malt). Additionally, carbon sources may include alkanes, fatty acids, esters of fatty acids, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids and various commercial sources of fatty acids including vegetable oils (e.g., soybean oil) and animal fats. Additionally, the carbon substrate may include one-carbon substrates (e.g., carbon dioxide, methanol, formaldehyde, formate, carbon-containing amines) for which metabolic conversion into key biochemical intermediates has been demonstrated. Hence it is contemplated that the source of carbon utilized in the present invention may encompass a wide variety of carbon-containing substrates and will only be limited by the choice of the host organism. Although all of the above mentioned carbon substrates and mixtures thereof are expected to be suitable in the present invention, preferred carbon substrates are sugars and/or fatty acids. Most preferred is glucose and/or fatty acids containing between 10-22 carbons.

[0208]Nitrogen may be supplied from an inorganic (e.g., (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4) or organic source (e.g., urea, glutamate). In addition to appropriate carbon and nitrogen sources, the fermentation media must also contain suitable minerals, salts, cofactors, buffers, vitamins and other components known to those skilled in the art suitable for the growth of the microorganism and promotion of the enzymatic pathways necessary for fatty acid production. Particular attention is given to several metal ions (e.g., Mn.sup.+2, Co+.sup.2, Zn.sup.+2, Mg.sup.+2) that promote synthesis of lipids and PUFAs (Nakahara, T. et al., Ind. Appl. Single Cell Oils, D. J. Kyle and R. Colin, eds. pp 61-97 (1992)).

[0209]Preferred growth media in the present invention are common commercially prepared media, such as Yeast Nitrogen Base (DIFCO Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.). Other defined or synthetic growth media may also be used and the appropriate medium for growth of the particular microorganism will be known by one skilled in the art of microbiology or fermentation science. A suitable pH range for the fermentation is typically between about pH 4.0 to pH 8.0, wherein pH 5.5 to pH 7.0 is preferred as the range for the initial growth conditions. The fermentation may be conducted under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, wherein microaerobic conditions are preferred.

[0210]Typically, accumulation of high levels of fatty acids and TAGs in oleaginous yeast cells requires a two-stage process, since the metabolic state must be "balanced" between growth and synthesis/storage of fats. Thus, most preferably, a two-stage fermentation process is necessary for the production of oils in oleaginous yeast. In this approach, the first stage of the fermentation is dedicated to the generation and accumulation of cell mass and is characterized by rapid cell growth and cell division. In the second stage of the fermentation, it is preferable to establish conditions of nitrogen deprivation in the culture to promote high levels of lipid accumulation. The effect of this nitrogen deprivation is to reduce the effective concentration of AMP in the cells, thereby reducing the activity of the NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase of mitochondria. When this occurs, citric acid will accumulate, thus forming abundant pools of acetyl-CoA in the cytoplasm and priming fatty acid synthesis. Thus, this phase is characterized by the cessation of cell division followed by the synthesis of fatty acids and accumulation of TAGs.

[0211]Although cells are typically grown at about 30.degree. C., some studies have shown increased synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids at lower temperatures (Yongmanitchai and Ward, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:419-25 (1991)). Based on process economics, this temperature shift should likely occur after the first phase of the two-stage fermentation, when the bulk of the organisms' growth has occurred.

[0212]It is contemplated that a variety of fermentation process designs may be applied, where commercial production of fatty acids and TAGs using the instant genes is desired. For example, commercial production of TAGs containing PUFAs from a recombinant microbial host may be produced by a batch, fed-batch or continuous fermentation process.

[0213]A batch fermentation process is a closed system wherein the media composition is set at the beginning of the process and not subject to further additions beyond those required for maintenance of pH and oxygen level during the process. Thus, at the beginning of the culturing process the media is inoculated with the desired organism and growth or metabolic activity is permitted to occur without adding additional substrates (i.e., carbon and nitrogen sources) to the medium. In batch processes the metabolite and biomass compositions of the system change constantly up to the time the culture is terminated. In a typical batch process, cells moderate through a static lag phase to a high-growth log phase and finally to a stationary phase, wherein the growth rate is diminished or halted. Left untreated, cells in the stationary phase will eventually die. A variation of the standard batch process is the fed-batch process, wherein the substrate is continually added to the fermentor over the course of the fermentation process. A fed-batch process is also suitable in the present invention. Fed-batch processes are useful when catabolite repression is apt to inhibit the metabolism of the cells or where it is desirable to have limited amounts of substrate in the media at any one time. Measurement of the substrate concentration in fed-batch systems is difficult and therefore may be estimated on the basis of the changes of measurable factors such as pH, dissolved oxygen and the partial pressure of waste gases (e.g., CO.sub.2). Batch and fed-batch culturing methods are common and well known in the art and examples may be found in Thomas D. Brock in Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology, 2.sup.nd ed., (1989) Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, Mass.; or Deshpande, Mukund V., Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol., 36:227 (1992), herein incorporated by reference.

[0214]Commercial production of fatty acids using the instant genes may also be accomplished by a continuous fermentation process wherein a defined media is continuously added to a bioreactor while an equal amount of culture volume is removed simultaneously for product recovery. Continuous cultures generally maintain the cells in the log phase of growth at a constant cell density. Continuous or semi-continuous culture methods permit the modulation of one factor or any number of factors that affect cell growth or end product concentration. For example, one approach may limit the carbon source and allow all other parameters to moderate metabolism. In other systems, a number of factors affecting growth may be altered continuously while the cell concentration, measured by media turbidity, is kept constant. Continuous systems strive to maintain steady state growth and thus the cell growth rate must be balanced against cell loss due to media being drawn off the culture. Methods of modulating nutrients and growth factors for continuous culture processes, as well as techniques for maximizing the rate of product formation, are well known in the art of industrial microbiology and a variety of methods are detailed by Brock, supra.

Purification of Fatty Acids

[0215]Fatty acids, including PUFAs, may be found in the host microorganism as free fatty acids or in esterified forms such as acylglycerols, phospholipids, sulfolipids or glycolipids, and may be extracted from the host cell through a variety of means well-known in the art. One review of extraction techniques, quality analysis and acceptability standards for yeast lipids is that of Z. Jacobs (Critical Reviews in Biotechnology 12(5/6):463-491 (1992)). A brief review of downstream processing is also available by A. Singh and O. Ward (Adv. Appl. Microbiol. 45:271-312 (1997)).

[0216]In general, means for the purification of fatty acids, including PUFAs, may include extraction with organic solvents, sonication, supercritical fluid extraction (e.g., using carbon dioxide), saponification and physical means such as presses, or combinations thereof. Of particular interest is extraction with methanol and chloroform in the presence of water (E. G. Bligh & W. J. Dyer, Can. J. Biochem. Physiol. 37:911-917 (1959)). Where desirable, the aqueous layer can be acidified to protonate negatively-charged moieties and thereby increase partitioning of desired products into the organic layer. After extraction, the organic solvents can be removed by evaporation under a stream of nitrogen. When isolated in conjugated forms, the products may be enzymatically or chemically cleaved to release the free fatty acid or a less complex conjugate of interest, and can then be subject to further manipulations to produce a desired end product. Desirably, conjugated forms of fatty acids are cleaved with potassium hydroxide.

[0217]If further purification is necessary, standard methods can be employed. Such methods may include extraction, treatment with urea, fractional crystallization, HPLC, fractional distillation, silica gel chromatography, high-speed centrifugation or distillation, or combinations of these techniques. Protection of reactive groups, such as the acid or alkenyl groups, may be done at any step through known techniques (e.g., alkylation, iodination). Methods used include methylation of the fatty acids to produce methyl esters. Similarly, protecting groups may be removed at any step. Desirably, purification of fractions containing GLA, STA, ARA, DHA and EPA may be accomplished by treatment with urea and/or fractional distillation.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0218]The ultimate goal of the work described herein is the development of an oleaginous yeast that accumulates TAGs enriched in .omega.-3 and/or .omega.-6 PUFAs. Toward this end, acyltransferases must be identified that function efficiently in oleaginous yeasts, to enable synthesis and high accumulation of preferred TAGs in these hosts. Specifically, modification of the expression levels of these acyltransferases will enable increased transfer of fatty acids (and particularly, PUFAs) to TAGs. Thus, identification of efficient acyltransferases is necessary for the manipulation of the amount of .omega.-3/.omega.-6 PUFAs incorporated into the TAG fraction produced in host cells.

[0219]In the present invention, Applicants have isolated and cloned genes from Yarrowia lipolytica that encode PDAT and DGAT2. Confirmation of these genes' activity was provided based upon lower oil content (total fatty acids as a % of dry cell weight) in Yarrowia strains wherein disruption of the native PDAT, DGAT2, or PDAT and DGAT2 had occurred by targeted gene replacement through homologous recombination (Example 5). Additionally, over-expression of the PDAT of the invention in a PDAT/DGAT2 knockout strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae lead to increased oil content (total fatty acids as a % of dry cell weight).

[0220]The Applicants conclude that these acyltransferase genes encoding PDAT and DGAT2 are useful for expression in various microbial hosts, and particularly for over-expression in oleaginous yeasts (e.g., the native host Yarrowia lipolytica). Additional benefits may result, since expression of the acyltransferases can also be put under the control of strong constitutive or regulated promoters that do not have the regulatory constraints of the native gene.

EXAMPLES

[0221]The present invention is further defined in the following Examples. It should be understood that these Examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. From the above discussion and these Examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

General Methods

[0222]Standard recombinant DNA and molecular cloning techniques used in the Examples are well known in the art and are described by: 1.) Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E. F. and Maniatis, T. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989) (Maniatis); 2.) T. J. Silhavy, M. L. Bennan, and L. W. Enquist, Experiments with Gene Fusions; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1984); and 3.) Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, published by Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley-Interscience (1987).

[0223]Materials and methods suitable for the maintenance and growth of microbial cultures are well known in the art. Techniques suitable for use in the following Examples may be found as set out in Manual of Methods for General Bacteriology (Phillipp Gerhardt, R. G. E. Murray, Ralph N. Costilow, Eugene W. Nester, Willis A. Wood, Noel R. Krieg and G. Briggs Phillips, Eds), American Society for Microbiology: Washington, D.C. (1994)); or by Thomas D. Brock in Biotechnology: A Textbook of Industrial Microbiology, 2.sup.nd ed., Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, Mass. (1989). All reagents, restriction enzymes and materials used for the growth and maintenance of microbial cells were obtained from Aldrich Chemicals (Milwaukee, Wis.), DIFCO Laboratories (Detroit, Mich.), GIBCO/BRL (Gaithersburg, Md.) or Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Mo.), unless otherwise specified.

[0224]E. coli TOP10 cells and E. coli Electromax DH10B cells were obtained from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.). Max Efficiency competent cells of E. coli DH5.alpha. were obtained from GIBCO/BRL (Gaithersburg, Md.). E. coli (XL1-Blue) competent cells were purchased from the Stratagene Company (San Diego, Calif.). E. coli strains were typically grown at 37.degree. C. on Luria Bertani (LB) plates. General molecular cloning was performed according to standard methods (Sambrook et al., supra). Oligonucleotides were synthesized by Sigma-Genosys (Spring, Tex.). PCR products were cloned into Promega's pGEM-T-easy vector (Madison, Wis.).

[0225]DNA sequence was generated on an ABI Automatic sequencer using dye terminator technology (U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,860; EP 272,007) using a combination of vector and insert-specific primers. Sequence editing was performed in Sequencher (Gene Codes Corporation, Ann Arbor, Mich.). All sequences represent coverage at least two times in both directions. Comparisons of genetic sequences were accomplished using DNASTAR software (DNASTAR, Inc., (Madison, Wis.).

[0226]The meaning of abbreviations is as follows: "sec" means second(s), "min" means minute(s), "h" means hour(s), "d" means day(s), ".mu.L" means microliter(s), "mL" means milliliter(s), "L" means liter(s), ".mu.M" means micromolar, "mM" means millimolar, "M" means molar, "mmol" means millimole(s), "pmole" mean micromole(s), "g" means gram(s), ".mu.g" means microgram(s), "ng" means nanogram(s), "U" means unit(s), "bp" means base pair(s) and "kB" means kilobase(s).

Cultivation of Yarrowia lipolytica

[0227]Yarrowia lipolytica strains ATCC #76982 and ATCC #90812 were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, Md.). Y. lipolytica strains were usually grown at 28.degree. C. on YPD agar (1% yeast extract, 2% bactopeptone, 2% glucose, 2% agar). For selection of transformants, minimal medium (0.17% yeast nitrogen base (DIFCO Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) without ammonium sulfate or amino acids, 2% glucose, 0.1% proline, pH 6.1) was used. Supplements of adenine, leucine, lysine and/or uracil were added as appropriate to a final concentration of 0.01%.

Fatty Acid Analysis of Yarrowia lipolytica

[0228]For fatty acid analysis, cells were collected by centrifugation and lipids were extracted as described in Bligh, E. G. & Dyer, W. J. (Can. J. Biochem. Physiol. 37:911-917 (1959)). Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared by transesterification of the lipid extract with sodium methoxide (Roughan, G., and Nishida I. Arch Biochem Biophys. 276(1):38-46 (1990)) and subsequently analyzed with a Hewlett-Packard 6890 GC fitted with a 30-m.times.0.25 mm (i.d.) HP-INNOWAX (Hewlett-Packard) column. The oven temperature was from 170.degree. C. (25 min hold) to 185.degree. C. at 3.5.degree. C./min.

[0229]For direct base transesterification, Yarrowia culture (3 mL) was harvested, washed once in distilled water and dried under vacuum in a Speed-Vac for 5-10 min. Sodium methoxide (100 .mu.l of 1%) was added to the sample, and then the sample was vortexed and rocked for 20 min. After adding 3 drops of 1 M NaCl and 400 .mu.l hexane, the sample was vortexed and spun. The upper layer was removed and analyzed by GC as described above.

Example 1

Construction of Plasmids Suitable for Gene Expression in Yarrowia lipolytica

[0230]The present Example describes the construction of plasmids pY5, pY5-13, pY5-20 and pLV5.

Construction of Plasmid pY5

[0231]The plasmid pY5, a derivative of pINA532 (a gift from Dr. Claude Gaillardin, Insitut National Agronomics, Centre de biotechnologie Agro-Industrielle, laboratoire de Genetique Moleculaire et Cellularie INRA-CNRS, F-78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France), was constructed for expression of heterologous genes in Yarrowia lipolytica, as diagrammed in FIG. 3. First, the partially-digested 3598 bp EcoRI fragment containing the ARS18 sequence and LEU2 gene of pINA532 was subcloned into the EcoRI site of pBluescript (Strategene, San Diego, Calif.) to generate pY2. The TEF promoter (Muller S., et al., Yeast, 14:1267-1283 (1998)) was amplified from Y. lipolytica genomic DNA by PCR using TEF5' (SEQ ID NO:1) and TEF3' (SEQ ID NO:2) as primers. PCR amplification was carried out in a 50 .mu.l total volume containing: 100 ng Yarrowia genomic DNA, PCR buffer containing 10 mM KCl, 10 mM (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4, 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.75), 2 mM MgSO.sub.4, 0.1% Triton X-100, 100 .mu.g/mL BSA (final concentration), 200 .mu.M each deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate, 10 pmole of each primer and 1 .mu.l of PfuTurbo DNA polymerase (Stratagene). Amplification was carried out as follows: initial denaturation at 95.degree. C. for 3 min, followed by 35 cycles of the following: 95.degree. C. for 1 min, 56.degree. C. for 30 sec, 72.degree. C. for 1 min. A final extension cycle of 72.degree. C. for 10 min was carried out, followed by reaction termination at 4.degree. C. The 418 bp PCR product was ligated into pCR-Blunt to generate pIP-tef. The BamHI/EcoRVfragment of pIP-tef was subcloned into the BamHI/SmaI sites of pY2 to generate pY4.

[0232]The XPR2 transcriptional terminator was amplified by PCR using pINA532 as template and XPR5' (SEQ ID NO:3) and XPR3' (SEQ ID NO:4) as primers. The PCR amplification was carried out in a 50 .mu.l total volume, using the components and conditions described above. The 179 bp PCR product was digested with SacII and then ligated into the SacII site of pY4 to generate pY5. Thus, pY5 (shown in FIG. 3) is useful as a Yarrowia-E. coli shuttle plasmid containing: [0233]1.) a Yarrowia autonomous replication sequence (ARS18); [0234]2.) a ColE1 plasmid origin of replication; [0235]3.) an ampicillin-resistance gene (Amp.sup.R), for selection in E. coli; [0236]4.) a Yarrowia LEU2 gene (E.C. 1.1.1.85, encoding isopropylmalate isomerase), for selection in Yarrowia; [0237]5.) the translation elongation promoter (TEF), for expression of heterologous genes in Yarrowia; and [0238]6.) the extracellular protease gene terminator (XPR2) for transcriptional termination of heterologous gene expression in Yarrowia. Construction of Plasmid pY5-13

[0239]pY5-13 (FIG. 3) was constructed as a derivative of pY5 to facilitate subcloning and heterologous gene expression in Yarrowia lipolytica. Specifically, pY5-13 was constructed by 6 rounds of site-directed mutagenesis using pY5 as template. Both SaII and ClaI sites were eliminated from pY5 by site-directed mutagenesis using oligonucleotides YL5 and YL6 (SEQ ID NOs:5 and 6) to generate pY5-5. A SaII site was introduced into pY5-5 between the LEU2 gene and the TEF promoter by site-directed mutagenesis using oligonucleotides YL9 and YL10 (SEQ ID NOs:7 and 8) to generate pY5-6. A PacI site was introduced into pY5-6 between the LEU2 gene and ARS18 using oligonucleotides YL7 and YL8 (SEQ ID NOs:9 and 10) to generate pY5-8. A NcoI site was introduced into pY5-8 around the translation start codon of the TEF promoter using oligonucleotides YL3 and YL4 (SEQ ID NOs:11 and 12) to generate pY5-9. The NcoI site inside the LEU2 gene of pY5-9 was eliminated using YL1 and YL2 oligonucleotides (SEQ ID NOs:13 and 14) to generate pY5-12. Finally, a BsiWI site was introduced into pY5-12 between the ColEI and XPR2 region using oligonucleotides YL61 and YL62 (SEQ ID NOs:15 and 16) to generate pY5-13.

Construction of Plasmids pY5-20 and pLV5

[0240]Plasmid pY5-20 is a derivative of pY5. It was constructed by inserting a Not I fragment containing a chimeric hygromycin resistance gene into the Not I site of pY5. Specifically, the E. coli hygromycin resistance gene (SEQ ID NO:17; "HPT"; Kaster, K. R., et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 11:6895-6911 (1983)) was PCR amplified for expression. The chimeric gene had the hygromycin resistance ORF under the control of the Y. lipolytica TEF promoter.

[0241]Plasmid pLV5 is a derivative of pY5-20. It was constructed by replacing the hygromycin resistant gene with the Yarrowia Ura3 gene. A 1.7 kB DNA fragment (SEQ ID NO:19) containing the Yarrowia Ura3 gene was PCR amplified using oligonucleotides KU5 and KU3 (SEQ ID NOs:21 and 22) as primers and Yarrowia genomic DNA as template.

Example 2

Cloning of a Partial Yarrowia lipolytica Acyl-CoA:Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase (DGAT2) Gene and Disruption of the Endogenous DGAT2 Gene

[0242]The present Example describes the use of degenerate PCR primers to isolate a partial coding sequence of the Yarrowia lipolytica DGAT2 and the use of the partial sequence to disrupt the native gene in Y. lipolytica.

Cloning of a Partial Putative DGAT2 Sequence from Yarrowia lipolytica by PCR Using Degenerate PCR Primers and Chromosome Walking

[0243]Genomic DNA was isolated from Y. lipolytica (ATCC #76982) using a DNeasy Tissue Kit (Qiagen, Catalog #69504) and resuspended in kit buffer AE at a DNA concentration of 0.5 .mu.g/.mu.l. PCR amplifications were performed using the genomic DNA as template and several sets of degenerate primers designed to encode conserved amino acid sequences among different known DGAT2s (i.e., GenBank Accession Nos. NC.sub.--001147 [Saccharomyces cerevisiae] and AF391089 and AF391090 [Mortierella ramanniana]). The best results were obtained with degenerate primers P7 and P8, as shown in the Table below.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Degenerate Primers Used For Amplification Of A Partial Putative DGAT2 Degenerate Corresponding Primer Nucleotide Amino Acid Set Description Sequence Sequence P7 (32) 29-mers 5'- NYIFGYHPHG AACTACATCTTCGGCTAY (SEQ ID NO: CAYCCNCAYGG-3' 24) (SEQ ID NO: 23) P8 (48) 29-mers 5'- complementary AGGGACTCGGAGGCGC to IVVGGASESL CGCCNCANACDAT-3' (SEQ ID NO: (SEQ ID NO: 25) 26) [Note: Abbreviations are standard for nucleotides and proteins. The nucleic acid degeneracy code used is as follows: Y = C/T; D = A/G/T; and N = A/C/G/T.]

[0244]The PCR was carried out in a RoboCycler Gradient 40 PCR machine (Stratagene) using the manufacturer's recommendations and Accuprime Taq polymerase (Invitrogen). Amplification was carried out as 25 follows: initial denaturation at 95.degree. C. for 1 min, followed by 30 cycles of denaturation at 95.degree. C. for 30 sec, annealing at 55.degree. C. for 1 min, and elongation at 72.degree. C. for 1 min. A final elongation cycle at 72.degree. C. for 10 min was carried out, followed by reaction termination at 4.degree. C.

[0245]The expected PCR product (ca. 264 bp) was detected by 4% NuSieve (FMC) agarose gel electrophoresis, isolated, purified, cloned into the TOPO.RTM. cloning vector (Invitrogen), and sequenced. The resultant sequence (contained within SEQ ID NO:30) had homology to known DGAT2s, based on BLAST program analysis (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul, S. F., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1993).

[0246]Using the 264 bp fragment as an initiation point, a 673 bp fragment was obtained by chromosome walking using the TOPO.RTM. Walker Kit (Invitrogen, Catalog #K8000-01). The chromosome walking was carried out in 6 steps, as described briefly below: [0247]1.) Genomic DNA (5 .mu.g) was digested with restriction enzymes Pst I or Sac I, leaving a 3' overhang; [0248]2.) Digested DNA was treated with 0.1 U calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase to dephosphorylate DNA; [0249]3.) Primer extension was performed, using the DGAT2 specific primer P80 (SEQ ID NO:27) and Taq polymerase; [0250]4.) TOPO.RTM. Linker (1 .mu.l) was added and the reaction was incubated at 37.degree. C. for 5 min to ligate TOPO.RTM. Linker to the DNA; [0251]5.) PCR was performed using the DGAT2 gene specific primer, P81 (SEQ ID NO:28) and LinkAmp primer 1 (SEQ ID NO:29); and [0252]6.) The newly amplified fragment was sequenced with primer P81 and LinkAmp primer 1.The sequence of the 673 bp fragment obtained by chromosome walking also showed homology to known DGAT2 sequences.Targeted Disruption of the Yarrowia lipolytica DGAT2 Gene

[0253]Targeted disruption of the DGAT2 gene in Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 and ATCC #76982 was carried out by homologous recombination-mediated replacement of the endogenous DGAT2 gene with a targeting cassette designated as plasmid pY21 DGAT2. pY21 DGAT2 was derived from plasmid pY20 (Example 1). Specifically, pY21 DGAT2 was created by inserting a 570 bp Hind III/Eco RI fragment into similarly linearized pY20. The 570 bp DNA fragment contained (in 5' to 3' orientation): 3' homologous sequence from position +1090 to +1464 (of the coding sequence (ORF) in SEQ ID NO:30), a Bgl II restriction site and 5' homologous sequence from position +906 to +1089 (of the coding sequence (ORF) shown in SEQ ID NO:30). The fragment was prepared by PCR amplification of 3' and 5' sequences from the 673 bp DGAT2 PCR product obtained by chromosome walking using two pairs of PCR primers, P95 and P96 (SEQ ID NOs:32 and 33), and P97 and P98 (SEQ ID NOs:34 and 35), respectively.

[0254]pY21 DGAT2 was linearized by Bgl II restriction digestion and transformed into mid-log phase Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 and ATCC #76982 cells by the lithium acetate method according to the method of Chen, D. C. et al. (Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 48(2):232-235-(1997)). Briefly, Y. lipolytica ATCC #90821 and Y. lipolytica ATCC #76982 were streaked onto YPD plates and grown at 30.degree. C. for approximately 18 hr. Several large loopfuls of cells were scraped from the plates and resuspended in 1 mL of transformation buffer containing: [0255]2.25 mL of 50% PEG, average MW 3350; [0256]0.125 mL of 2 M Li acetate, pH 6.0; [0257]0.125 mL of 2 M DTT; and [0258]50 .mu.g sheared salmon sperm DNA.About 500 ng of plasmid DNA were incubated in 100 .mu.l of resuspended cells and maintained at 39.degree. C. for 1 hr with vortex mixing at 15 min intervals. The cells were plated onto YPD hygromycin selection plates and maintained at 30.degree. C. for 2 to 3 days.

[0259]Four Y. lipolytica ATCC #76982 hygromycin-resistant colonies and fourteen Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 hygromycin-resistant colonies were isolated and screened for targeted disruption by PCR. One set of PCR primers (P115 [SEQ ID NO:36] and P116 [SEQ ID NO:37]) was designed to amplify a specific junction fragment following homologous recombination. Another pair of PCR primers (P115 and P112 [SEQ ID NO:38]) was designed to detect the native gene. All (4 of 4) of the hygromycin-resistant colonies of ATCC #76982 strains were positive for the junction fragment and negative for the native fragment; and, 2 of the 14 hygromycin-resistant colonies of ATCC #90812 strains were positive for the junction fragment and negative for the native fragment. Thus, targeted integration was confirmed in these 6 strains. Disruption of the gene was further confirmed by GC analysis of total lipids of one of the disrupted strains, designated as "S-D" (see Example 5).

Example 3

Cloning of a Partial Yarrowia lipolytica Phospholipid:Diacvlglvcerol Acyltransferase (PDAT) Gene and Disruption of the Endogenous PDAT Gene

[0260]The present Example describes the use of degenerate PCR primers to isolate a partial coding sequence of Y. lipolytica PDAT and the use of the partial sequence to disrupt the native gene in Y. lipolytica.

Cloning of a Partial Putative PDAT Sequence from Yarrowia lipolytica by PCR Using Degenerate PCR Primers and Chromosome Walking

[0261]Genomic DNA was isolated from Y. lipolytica (ATCC #76982) using a DNeasy Tissue Kit (Qiagen, Catalog #69504) and resuspended in kit buffer AE at a DNA concentration of 0.5 .mu.g/.mu.l. PCR amplifications were performed using genomic DNA as the template and several pairs of degenerate primers encoding conserved amino acid sequences in different known PDATs (GenBank Accession Nos. NP 190069 and AB006704 [(gi:2351069Arabidopsis thaliana], and NP.sub.--596330 [Schizosaccharomyces pombe]; and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Lro 1 gene [Dahlqvist et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:6487 (2000)]). The best results were obtained with degenerate primers P26 and P27, as shown in the Table below.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Degenerate Primers Used For Amplification Of A Partial Putative PDAT Degenerate Corresponding Primer Nucleotide Amino Acid Set Description Sequence Sequence P26 (32) 29-mers 5'- MLDKETGLDP ATGCTGGACAAGGAGA (SEQ ID NO: CCGGNCTNGAYCC-3' 40) (SEQ ID NO: 39) P27 (16) 33-mers 5'- complementary CCAGATGACGTCGCCG to SMLPKGGEVIW CCCTTGGGNARCATNG (SEQ ID NO: A-3' (SEQ ID 42) NO: 41) [Note: Abbreviations are standard for nucleotides and proteins. The nucleic acid degeneracy code used is as follows: R = A/G; Y = C/T; and N = A/C/G/T.]

[0262]The PCR was carried out in a RoboCycler Gradient 40 PCR machine (Stratagene), using the amplification conditions described in Example 2. The expected PCR product (ca. 600 bp) was detected by 4% NuSieve (FMC) agarose gel electrophoresis, isolated, purified, cloned into the TOPO.RTM. cloning vector (Invitrogen) and sequenced. The resultant sequence (contained within SEQ ID NO:45) had homology to known PDATs, based on BLAST program analysis (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul, S. F., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1993).

Targeted Disruption of Yarrowia lipolytica PDAT Gene

[0263]Following the sequencing of this ca. 600 bp partial coding region for PDAT, a larger DNA fragment encoding this sequence was discovered in the public Y. lipolytica database of the "Yeast project Genolevures" (Center for Bioinformatics, LaBRI, Talence Cedex, France. This allowed isolation of a 1008 bp genomic DNA fragment comprising a portion of the PDAT gene from Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 using PCR primers P39 and P42 (SEQ ID NOs:43 and 44).

[0264]Targeted disruption of the PDAT gene in Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 was carried out by homologous recombination-mediated replacement of the endogenous PDAT gene with a targeting cassette designated as pLV13. pLV13 was derived from plasmid pLV5 (Example 1). Specifically, pLV13 was created by inserting a 992 bp Bam HI/Eco RI fragment into similarly linearized pLV5. The 992 bp DNA fragment contained (in 5' to 3' orientation): 3' homologous sequence from position +877 to +1371 (of the coding sequence (ORF) in SEQ ID NO:45), a Bgl II restriction site and 5' homologous sequence from position +390 to +876 (of the coding sequence (ORF) in SEQ ID NO:45). The fragment was prepared by PCR amplification of 3' and 5' sequences from the 1008 bp PCR product described above, using PCR primers P39 and P41 (SEQ ID NOs:43 and 47) and P40 and P42 (SEQ ID NOs:48 and 44), respectively.

[0265]pLV13 was linearized by Bgl II restriction digestion and was transformed into mid-log phase Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 cells by the lithium acetate method (Example 2). The cells were plated onto Bio101 DOB/CSM-Ura selection plates and maintained at 30.degree. C. for 2 to 3 days.

[0266]Ten Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 colonies were isolated and screened for targeted disruption by PCR. One set of PCR primers (P51 [SEQ ID NO:49] and P52 [SEQ ID NO:50]) was designed to amplify a targeting cassette. Another set of PCR primers (P37 [SEQ ID NO:51] and P38 [SEQ ID NO:52]) was designed to detect the native gene. Ten of the ten strains were positive for the junction fragment and 3 of the 10 strains were negative for native fragment, thus confirming successful targeted integration in these 3 strains. Disruption of the gene was further confirmed by GC analysis of total lipids in one of the disrupted strains, designated as "S--P" (see Example 5).

Example 4

Construction of a Yarrowia lipolytica Double Knockout Strain Containing Disruptions in Both PDAT and DGAT2 Genes

[0267]The present Example describes the creation of a double knockout strain that was disrupted in both PDAT and DGAT2 genes.

[0268]Specifically, the Y. lipolytica ATCC#90812 hygromycin-resistant "S-D" mutant (containing the DGAT2 disruption from Example 2) was transformed with plasmid pLV13 (from Example 3) and transformants were screened by PCR, as described in Example 3. Two of twelve transformants were confirmed to be disrupted in both the DGAT2 and PDAT genes. Disruption of the gene was further confirmed by GC analysis of total lipids in one of the disrupted strains, designated as "S-D-P" (see Example 5).

Example 5

Determination of Tag Content in Mutant and Wildtype Yarrowia lipolytica Strains (ATCC #90812)

[0269]Single colonies of wildtype and mutant Y. lipolytica (ATCC #90812) containing disruptions in either the PDAT (from Example 3), DGAT2 (from Example 2) or PDAT and DGAT2 (from Example 4) genes were separately grown according to two different culture conditions, as described below: [0270]Growth Condition 1: Cells were grown in 3 mL minimal media (formulation/L: 20 g glucose, 1.7 g yeast nitrogen base, 1 g L-proline, 0.1 g L-adenine, 0.1 g L-lysine, pH 6.1) at 30.degree. C. to an OD.sub.600.about.1.0. The cells were harvested, washed in distilled water, speed vacuum dried and subjected to GC analysis of the lipids following thin layer chromatography (TLC) (infra). [0271]Growth Condition 2: Cells were grown in a 50 mL culture using conditions that induce oleaginy. Specifically, one loopful of cells from plates were inoculated into 3 mL YPD medium and grown overnight on a shaker (300 rpm) at 30.degree. C. The cells were harvested and washed once in 0.9% NaCl and resuspended in 50 mL of high glucose medium [formulation/L: 7 g KH.sub.2PO.sub.4, 2 g K.sub.2HPO.sub.4, 2 g MgSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2O, 80 g glucose, 0.1 g leucine, 0.1 g Uracil, and 0.1 g L-lysine, pH 5.0]. Cells were then grown on a shaker as above for 48 hrs. Cells were washed in water and the cell pellet was lophilized. Twenty (20) mg of dry cell weight was used for total fatty acid by GC analysis and the oil fraction following TLC (infra) and GC analysis.

Thin Layer Chromatography

[0272]The methodology used for TLC is described below in the following five steps: [0273]1) The internal standard of 15:0 fatty acid (10 .mu.l of 10 mg/mL) was added to 2 to 3 mg dry cell mass, followed by extraction of the total lipid using a methanol/chloroform method. [0274]2) Extracted lipid (50 .mu.l) was blotted across a light pencil line drawn approximately 1 inch from the bottom of a 5.times.20 cm silica gel 60 plate, using 25-50 .mu.l micropipettes. [0275]3) The TLC plate was then dried under N.sub.2 and was inserted into a tank containing about .about.100 mL 80:20:1 hexane:ethyl ether:acetic acid solvent. [0276]4) After separation of bands, a vapor of iodine was blown over one side of the plate to identify the bands. This permitted samples on the other side of the plate to be scraped using a razor blade for further analysis. [0277]5) Basic transesterification of the scraped samples and GC analysis was performed, as described in the General Methods.Results from GC Analysis

[0278]GC results are shown below in Tables 5 and 6. Cultures are described as the "S" strain (wildtype), "S--P" (PDAT knockout), "S-D" (DGAT2 knockout), and "S--P-D" (PDAT and DGAT2 knockout). Abbreviations utilized are: WT=wildtype; TFAs=total fatty acids; dcw=dry cell weight; and, % WT=% relative to the wild type ("S" strain).

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Lipid Content In Yarrowia ATCC #90812 Strains Disrupted In PDAT, DGAT2 Or Both, Grown In Minimal Media TFAs Culture Fraction % dcw % WT S strain (WT) total 12 100 TAG 15 100 phospholipid 5 S-P total 11 89 TAG 14 98 phospholipid 5 S-D total 10 81 TAG 10 66 phospholipid 4 S-P-D total 8 64 TAG 7 50 phospholipid 3

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Lipid Content In Yarrowia ATCC #90812 Strains Disrupted In PDAT, DGAT2 Or Both, Grown Under Oleaginous Conditions dcw, Lipid TFAs Culture mg fraction .mu.g % dcw % WT S strain (WT) 32.0 Total 797 15.9 100 S-D 37.5 Total 329 6.4 40 S-P 28.8 Total 318 6.0 38 S-P-D 31.2 Total 228 4.3 27 S strain (WT) 32.0 TAG 697 13.9 100 S-D 37.5 TAG 227 4.4 32 S-P 28.8 TAG 212 4.0 29 S-P-D 31.2 TAG 122 2.3 17

The results shown above indicated that the disrupted strains showed lower oil content (TFAs % dcw) as compared to the wild type strain. And, the results shown in Tables 5 and 6 confirmed that the Y. lipolytica genes encoding both DGAT2 and PDAT contribute to oil biosynthesis in the native organism, with DGAT2 acting as the major contributor to oil biosynthesis during oleaginy. Surprisingly, however, the results also suggest the existence of additional Yarrowia gene(s) involved in oil biosynthesis.

Example 6

Cloning of Full-Length Yarrowia lipolytica DGAT2 and PDAT Genes

[0279]The present Example describes the recovery of the genomic sequences flanking the disrupted DGAT2 and PDAT genes by plasmid rescue, using the sequence in the rescued plasmid to PCR the intact ORF of the native gene. The full-length genes and their deduced amino acid sequences are compared to other fungal DGAT2 and PDAT sequences, respectively.

Plasmid Rescue of Yarrowia lipolytica DGAT2 and PDAT Genes

[0280]Since the acyltransferase genes were disrupted by the insertion of the entire pY21DGAT2 and pLV13 vectors that each contained an E. coli ampicillin-resistant gene and E. coli ori, it was possible to rescue the flanking PDAT and DGAT2 sequences in E. coli. For this, genomic DNA of Y. lipolytica strain "S-D" (carrying the disrupted DGAT2 gene; Example 2) and Y. lipolytica strain "S--P" (carrying the disrupted PDAT gene; Example 3) was isolated using the DNeasy Tissue Kit. Specifically, 10 .mu.g of the genomic DNA was digested with 50 U of the following restriction enzymes in a reaction volume of 200 .mu.l: for DGAT2--Age/and Nhe I; for PDAT--Kpn I, Pac I and Sac I. Digested DNA was extracted with phenol:chloroform and resuspended in 40 .mu.l deionized water. The digested DNA (10 .mu.l) was self-ligated in a 200 .mu.l ligation mixture containing 3 U T4 DNA ligase. Each ligation reaction was carried out at 16.degree. C. for 12 hrs. The ligated DNA was extracted with phenol:chloroform and resuspended in 40 .mu.l deionized water. Finally, 1 .mu.l of the resuspended ligated DNA was used to transform E. coli by electroporation and plated on LB containing ampicillin (Ap). Ap-resistant transformants were isolated and analyzed for the presence of plasmids. The following insert sizes were found in the recovered or rescued plasmids (Tables 7 and 8):

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Insert Sizes Of Recovered DGAT2 Plasmids, According To Restriction Enzyme Enzyme plasmid insert size (kB) AgeI 2.3 NheI 9.5

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Insert Sizes Of Recovered PDAT Plasmids, According To Restriction Enzyme Enzyme plasmid insert size (kB) kpn I 6.9 Sac I 5.4 Sph I 7.0

[0281]Sequencing of the DGAT2 rescued plasmids was initiated with sequencing primers P79 (SEQ ID NO:53) and P95 (SEQ ID NO:32). In contrast, sequencing of the PDAT plasmids was initiated with sequencing primers P84 (SEQ ID NO:54) and P85 (SEQ ID NO:55).

[0282]Based on the sequencing results, a full-length gene encoding the Y. lipolytica DGAT2 gene was assembled (2119 bp; SEQ ID NO:30). Specifically, the sequence encoded an open reading frame (ORF) of 1545 bases (nucleotides +291 to +1835 of SEQ ID NO:30), while the deduced amino acid sequence was 514 residues in length (SEQ ID NO:31). Since this ORF has an initiation codon (`ATG`) at position 1, as well as at positions 56 and 160, it contains at least two additional nested (smaller) ORFs. Specifically, one ORF is 1380 bases long (nucleotides +456 to +1835 of SEQ ID NO:30), with a deduced amino acid sequence of 459 residues (SEQ ID NO:78); another ORF is 1068 bases long (nucleotides +768 to +1835 of SEQ ID NO:30) with a deduced amino acid sequence of 355 residues (SEQ ID NO:79), encoded by SEQ ID NO:86.

[0283]The ORF encoded by SEQ ID NO:86 has a high degree of similarity to other known DGAT enzymes and because disruption in SEQ ID NO:86 eliminated DGAT function of the native gene, the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:79 has been identified as clearly having DGAT functionality. For example, the Yarrowia lipolytica DGAT2 that is 355 residues in length (i.e., SEQ ID NO:79) is only 16 amino acids shorter than the Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein, 7 amino acids shorter than the Mortierella ramanniana type 2A protein and 2 amino acids shorter than the M. ramanniana type 2B protein (infra). Despite this hypothesis, however, it may be useful to test the contribution of all of the three ORFs encoded by SEQ ID NOs:31, 78 and 79 for expression of the Yarrowia DGAT2 protein.

[0284]A comparison of SEQ ID NO:79 (i.e., the deduced amino acid sequence of the 355 residues; Y. lipolytica DGAT2 ("Yl")) was made with the known fungal DGAT2s shown in Table 9 below, using the ClustalW (Slow/Accurate, Gonnet) program of the DNASTAR software package (Madison, Wis.).

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Description of Known Fungal DGAT2s Organism Abbreviation Reference Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sc GenBank Accession No. DGA1 gene NC_001147 [Locus NP_014888] Mortierella ramanniana MrA GenBank Accession No. DGAT2 type 2A AF391089 Mortierella ramanniana MrB GenBank Accession No. DGAT2 type 2B AF391090

[0285]This comparison revealed the Pair Distances shown as percent similarity in FIG. 4A. Thus, comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of other fungal homologs to the Y. lipolytica DGAT2 described herein as SEQ ID NO:79 revealed less than 38.4% amino acid identity.

[0286]Following sequencing and analysis of the DGAT2 proteins described above, a Yarrowia lipolytica DGAT2 protein sequence was published as part of the Genolevures project (sponsored by the Center for Bioinformatics, LaBRI, batiment A30, Universite Bordeaux 1, 351, cours de la Liberation, 33405 Talence Cedex, France. Specifically, the sequence disclosed therein was identified as ORF YALI-CDS2240.1, encoding 514 amino acids, and the protein was reported to share some similarities with tr|Q08650 Saccharomyces cerevisiae YOR245C DGA1 acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase.

[0287]In a manner similar to that used to deduce the full-length sequence of DGAT2, a full-length gene encoding the Y. lipolytica PDAT gene was assembled (2326 bp; SEQ ID NO:45) based on sequencing results. Specifically, the sequence encoded an open reading frame of 1944 bases (nucleotides +274 to +2217 of SEQ ID NO:45), while the deduced amino acid sequence was 648 residues in length (SEQ ID NO:46). A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the Y. lipolytica PDAT ("Yl") was made with other known fungal PDATs (as shown in Table 10) using the analysis methods described above.

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Description of Known or Putative Fungal PDATs Organism Abbreviation Reference Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sc Dahlqvist et al., Proc. Natl. Lro 1 gene Acad. Sci. USA 97: 6487 (2000) Arabidopsis thaliana At2 GenBank Accession No. "At3g44830" gene NP 190069 [gi: 15230521] (lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase family protein/LACT family protein) Arabidopsis thaliana At1 GenBank Accession No. AB006704 [gi: 2351069] Schizosaccharomyces Sp GenBank Accession No. pombe "SPBC776.14" NP_596330 gene [gi: 19113122]

The results of this comparison are shown as Pair Distances in FIG. 4B. The results demonstrated that the Y. lipolytica PDAT possessed less than 47.1% amino acid identity with the other PDAT homologs.

[0288]Following sequencing and analysis of the PDAT protein described above, the Yarrowia lipolytica PDAT protein sequence was published as part of the Genolevures project (supra). The PDAT sequence disclosed therein was identified as ORF YALI-CDS1359.1, encoding 648 amino acids, and the protein was reported to share some similarities to sp|P40345 Saccharomyces cerevisiae YNR008w LRO1, a lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase-like gene which mediates diacylglycerol esterification.

Example 7

Functional Expression of Yarrowia lipolytica PDAT in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

[0289]The present Example describes the expression of the Yarrowia lipolytica gene (SEQ ID NO:45) encoding PDAT in a wildtype and DGAT2/PDAT knockout strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains

[0290]The following two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were obtained from Open Biosystems (Huntsville, Ala.) [0291]BY4741 WT (MATa, his3 .DELTA.1, leu2.DELTA.0, met15.DELTA.0, and ura3.DELTA.0); and, [0292]BY4741 dga1 (MATa, his3A1, leu2.DELTA.0, met15.DELTA.0, and ura3.DELTA.0), dga1 (comprising a mutant DGAT2 gene).Haploid strain BY4741 dga1/lro1 was derived from strain BY4741 dga1 by disrupting the Lro1 gene encoding PDAT according to the methodology recommended by Open Biosytem, as described below.

[0293]First, a S. cerevisiae LRO 1 targeting cassette was made by PCR amplifying the S. cerevisiae LEU2 gene from plasmid pJJ250 (Jones, J. S, and I. Prakash, Yeast 6:363-366 (1990)). This was accomplished using the following primer pair: [0294]UP 161 (SEQ ID NO:84), an 81-mer comprised of 45 bp of 5' untranslated region of the LRO 1 gene at the primer's 5' end, followed by 36 bp of the 5' end of the LEU2 gene; and, [0295]LP 162 (SEQ ID NO:85), an 81-mer comprised of 45 bp of 3' untranslated region of the LRO 1 gene at the primer's 5' end, followed by 36 bp of the 3' end of the LEU2 gene.The expected 1901 bp PCR product was purified following agarose gel electrophoresis and transformed into strain BY4741 dga1 by the standard lithium acetate method (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, P13.7.1). Transformants were selected on DOB-Leu plates (formulation/L: 43.7 g DOBA [BIO 101.RTM. Systems, Catalog #4026-012; Krackeler Scientific, Inc., Albany, N.Y.] and 0.69 g CSM-Leu [BIO 101.RTM. Systems, Catalog #4510-512; Krackeler Scientific, Inc.]). After 3 days, more than 100 transformant colonies were visible; six of these colonies were selected for PCR analysis. The LRO 1 knockout was confirmed in all 6 colonies, thus yielding a double knockout of S. cerevisiae, identified herein as strain BY4741 dga1/lro1.Synthesis of Plasmid pScGPD-YlPDAT (Comprising a GPD::PDAT::ADH1 Chimeric Gene)

[0296]The S. cerevisiae GPD (TDH3 gene, encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) promoter was amplified using primers GPD-1 (SEQ ID NO:80) and GPD-2 (SEQ ID NO:81), using standard conditions. The 653 bp PCR product was cloned into pGEM-T (Promega, Madison, Wis.). The resulting plasmid, pGPD-GEM, was cut with Sac II and Spe I. The 673 bp fragment containing the GPD promoter was isolated and cloned into the S. cerevisiae vector pRS426 digested with Sac II and Spe I, to form plasmid pGPD426 [pRS426 is a yeast autonomously replicating vector that carries the URA gene (Christianson T. W., et al., Gene 110:119-122 (1992))].

[0297]The S. cerevisiae ADH1 (alcohol dehydrogenase gene) terminator region was amplified using primers ADHT-1 (SEQ ID NO:82) and ADHT-2 (SEQ ID NO:83). The 330 bp PCR product was cut with Xho I and Kpn I, and cloned into pGPD426 between Xho I and Kpn I, resulting in formation of plasmid pGPD426N.

[0298]Plasmid pGPD426N was cut with Nco I and Not I and then a Nco I-Not I fragment carrying the Yarrowia PDAT ORF was cloned into it. Thus, the resultant plasmid pScGPD-YlPDAT contained the Yarrowia lipolytica PDAT ORF under the control of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GPD promoter (i.e., a GPD::PDAT::ADH1 chimeric gene).

Transformation and Expression of the Yarrowia lipolytica PDAT in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

[0299]Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain BY4741 dga1/lro1 was transformed by the standard lithium acetate method (supra) with either pGPD426N (the "control") or with yeast plasmid pScGPD-YlPDAT (comprising GOD::PDAT::ADH1). Positive transformants (i.e., URA prototrophs) were picked and streaked onto Ura dropout plates (i.e., DOB-Ura plates (formulation/L: 43.7 g DOBA [BIO 101.RTM. Systems, Catalog #4026-012; Krackeler Scientific, Inc., Albany, N.Y.] and 0.69 g CSM-Leu [BIO 101.RTM. Systems, Catalog #4511-212; Krackeler Scientific, Inc.])) and pre-cultivated for 1-2 days. A loop of cells was picked and inoculated into 3 mL Ura dropout medium and cultivated overnight at 30.degree. C. The preculture was transferred to 40 mL medium and cells were grown for 52 hr prior to being harvested, washed in water, and lyophilized. The dry cell weight ("dcw") was determined and dry cell mass was analyzed by direct base transesterification.

TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 11 Lipid Content In Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains Disrupted In PDAT And DGAT2 mg of dcw Strain Plasmid used for GC TFA mg TFA % dcw BY4741 pGPD426N 8.3 67 0.8 dga1/lro1 (control) BY4741 pScGPD- 9.4 154 1.6 dga1/lro1 YIPDAT

Total fatty acids, measured as a percent of the dry cell weight (column 5, "TFA % dcw") was doubled in the pScGPD-YlPDAT transformant as compared to that in the control (comprising the vector alone). Since Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not an oleaginous organism, this difference in the amount of total fatty acids produced is significant. These results confirmed that the enzyme encoded by SEQ ID NO:45 corresponds to a functional Yarrowia lipolytica PDAT enzyme.

Example 8

Isolation Of The Yarrowia Glyceraldehyde Phosphate Dehydrogenase (GPD) Promoter Region

[0300]The present Example describes the identification of the promoter region (SEQ ID NO:56) of the Yarrowia lipolytica gene encoding glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, by use of primers derived from conserved regions of other GPD sequences.

[0301]A comparison of the various protein sequences encoding GPD genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (GenBank Accession No. CAA24607; SEQ ID NO:57), Schizosaccharomyces pombe (GenBank Accession No. NP.sub.--595236; SEQ ID NO:58), Aspergillus oryzae (GenBank Accession No. AAK08065; SEQ ID NO:59), Paralichthys olivaceus (GenBank Accession No. BAA88638; SEQ ID NO:60), Xenopus laevis (GenBank Accession No. P51469; SEQ ID NO:61) and Gallus gallus (GenBank Accession No. DECHG3; SEQ ID NO:62) showed that there were several stretches of conserved amino acid sequence between the 6 different organisms (FIGS. 5A and 5B). Thus, two degenerated oligonucleotides (shown below), corresponding to the conserved `KYDSTHG` (SEQ ID NO:63) and `TGAAKAV` (SEQ ID NO:64) amino acid sequences, respectively, were designed and used to amplify a portion of the coding region of GPD from Y. lipolytica:

TABLE-US-00012 Degenerated oligonucleotide YL193: (SEQ ID NO: 65) AAGTACGAYTCBACYCAYGG Degenerated oligonucleotide YL194: (SEQ ID NO: 66) ACRGCCTTRGCRGCDCCRGT

[0302][Note: The nucleic acid degeneracy code used for SEQ ID NOs:65 and 66 was as follows: R=A/G; Y.dbd.C/T; B=C/G/T; and D=A/G/T.]Based on the full-length sequences of the GPD sequences of FIGS. 5A and 5B, it was hypothesized that the Yarrowia lipolytica GPD gene amplified as described above would be missing .about.50 amino acids from its N-terminus and about .about.115 amino acids from its C-terminus.

[0303]The PCR amplification was carried out in a 50 .mu.l total volume comprising: PCR buffer (containing 10 mM KCl, 10 mM (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4, 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.75), 2 mM MgSO.sub.4, 0.1% Triton X-100), 100 .mu.g/mL BSA (final concentration), 200 .mu.M each deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate, 10 pmole of each primer, 50 ng genomic DNA of Y. lipolytica (ATCC #76982) and 1 .mu.l of Taq DNA polymerase (Epicentre Technologies). The thermocycler conditions were set for 35 cycles at 95.degree. C. for 1 min, 56.degree. C. for 30 sec and 72.degree. C. for 1 min, followed by a final extension at 72.degree. C. for 10 min.

[0304]The PCR products were purified using a Qiagen PCR purification kit (Valencia, Calif.), and then further purified following gel electrophoresis in 1% (w/v) agarose. Subsequently, the PCR products were cloned into the pGEM-T-easy vector (Promega, Madison, Wis.). The ligated DNA was used to transform cells of E. coli DH5.alpha. and transformants were selected on LB agar containing ampicillin (100 .mu.g/mL). Analysis of the plasmid DNA from one transformant confirmed the presence of a plasmid of the expected size, which was designated as "pT-GPD".

[0305]Sequence analyses showed that pT-GPD contained a 507 bp fragment (SEQ ID NO:67). Identity of this sequence was determined by conducting BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul, S. F., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1993); searches for similarity to sequences contained in the BLAST "nr" database (comprising all non-redundant GenBank CDS translations, sequences derived from the 3-dimensional structure Brookhaven Protein Data Bank, the SWISS-PROT protein sequence database, EMBL and DDBJ databases). The sequence was analyzed for similarity to all publicly available DNA sequences contained in the "nr" database using the BLASTN algorithm provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The DNA sequence was translated in all reading frames and compared for similarity to all publicly available protein sequences contained in the "nr" database, using the BLASTX algorithm (Gish, W. and States, D. J. Nature Genetics 3:266-272 (1993)) provided by the NCBI. The results of the BLAST comparison summarizing the sequence to which SEQ ID NO:67 has the most similarity are reported according to the % identity, % similarity, and Expectation value. "% Identity" is defined as the percentage of amino acids that are identical between the two proteins. "% Similarity" is defined as the percentage of amino acids that are identical or conserved between the two proteins. "Expectation value" estimates the statistical significance of the match, specifying the number of matches, with a given score, that are expected in a search of a database of this size absolutely by chance. The 507 bp of pT-GPD was found to encode 169 amino acids (SEQ ID NO:68). This amino acid fragment had 77% identity and 84% similarity with the GPD protein sequence of fission yeast (GenBank Accession No. NP.sub.--595236), with an expectation value of 6e-68. The Yarrowia sequence possessed the `KYDSTHG` (SEQ ID NO:63) and `TGAAKAV` (SEQ ID NO:64) amino acid sequences (corresponding to the degenerate primers used to amplify the fragment) at its N- and C-termini.

[0306]To isolate the GPD promoter regions, a genome-walking technique (TOPO.RTM. Walker Kit, Invitrogen) was utilized, as described in Example 2. Briefly, genomic DNA of Y. lipolytica was digested with KpnI, SacI, SphI or PacI, and dephosphorylated with Calf Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase (CIP). Primer extension reactions were then carried out using primer YL206 (SEQ ID NO:69). The primer extended products were linked with TOPO.RTM. Linker and then used as template in PCR reactions with LinkAmp Primer1 (SEQ ID NO:29) and primer YL207 (SEQ ID NO:70). The newly amplified product was subjected to a second PCR reaction using the LinkAmp primer 2 (SEQ ID NO:77) and YL208 (SEQ ID NO:71) primers.

[0307]The PCR products comprising the 5' upstream region of the GPD gene were purified using a Qiagen PCR purification kit, followed by gel electrophoresis in 1% (w/v) agarose. Products were then cloned into the pGEM-T-easy vector (Promega, Madison, Wis.). The ligated DNA was used to transform E. coli DH5.alpha. and transformants were selected on LB agar containing ampicillin (100 .mu.g/mL).

[0308]Analysis of the plasmid DNA from one transformant comprising the 5' upstream region of the GPD gene confirmed the presence of the expected plasmid, designated pT-GPDP. Sequence analyses showed that pT-GPDP contained a fragment of 1848 bp (SEQ ID NO:72), which included 1525 bp of 5' upstream sequence from the nucleotide `A` (designated as +1) of the translation initiation codon `ATG` of the GPD gene. The nucleotide region between the -968 position and the ATG translation initiation site of the GPD gene was determined to contain the putative promoter region ("GPDPro", provided as SEQ ID NO:56).

Example 9

(Prophetic)

Expression of Yarrowia lipolytica PDAT and DGAT2 ORFs Under the Control of a Yarrowia Promoter

[0309]The present Example describes the over-expression of the PDAT and DGAT2 ORFs in chimeric genes under the control of a Yarrowia lipolytica promoter in a wild type Yarrowia strain.

Expression of Y. lipolytica DGAT2 in Yarrowia lipolytica The ORF of Y. lipolytica DGAT2, i.e., SEQ ID NO:86 which encodes the protein of 355 amino acid residues provided herein as SEQ ID NO:79, was PCR-amplified using upper primer P145 (SEQ ID NO:73) and lower primer P146 (SEQ ID NO:74) from the genomic DNA of Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812. The expected 1071 bp fragment was isolated, purified, digested with Nco I and Not I and cloned into Nco I-Not I cut pY5-13 vector (described in Example 1), such that the gene was under the control of the Y. lipolytica TEF promoter. Correct transformants were confirmed by miniprep analysis and the resultant plasmid was designated as pY27-DGAT2.

[0310]Plasmids pY5-13 (the "control") and pY27-DGAT2 will be transformed into Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 wild-type (WT) and DGAT2-disrupted ATCC #90812 ("S-D") strains and selected on BIO 101 Systems DOB/CSM-Leu plates (Krackeler Scientific, Inc., Albany, N.Y.). Single colonies of transformants will be grown up and GC analyzed, as described in the General Methods.

Expression of Y. lipolytica PDAT in Yarrowia lipolytica

[0311]The ORF of Y. lipolytica PDAT was PCR-amplified using primers YPDAT5 (SEQ ID NO:75) and YPDAT3 (SEQ ID NO:76) and genomic DNA from Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 as the template. The expected 1947 bp fragment was isolated, purified, digested with Not I and cloned into Not I cut vector pY5-22GPD under the control of the Yarrowia GPD promoter. Vector pY5-22GPD is similar to pY5-13 (Example 1), having an E. coli Ap.sup.R gene, E. coli ori and Yarrowia ARS sequence. Correct transformants were confirmed by analysis of plasmid DNA and the resultant plasmid was designated as pY27-PDAT.

[0312]Plasmids pY5-22GPD (the "control") and pY27-PDAT will be transformed into Y. lipolytica ATCC #90812 wild-type (WT) and PDAT-disrupted ATCC #90812 ("S--P") strains and selected on BIO 101.RTM. Systems DOB/CSM-Leu plates. Single colonies of transformants will be grown up and GC analyzed, as described in the General Methods.

Expected Results

[0313]Since both PDAT and DGAT2 enzymes are involved in oil biosynthesis, their over-expression is expected to result in increased oil content under conditions when these enzymes are limiting. This is supported by results that demonstrated disruption of DGAT2, PDAT and both genes in combination resulted in lower oil content.

Sequence CWU 1

86119DNAArtificial SequencePrimer TEF5' 1agagaccggg ttggcggcg 19230DNAArtificial SequencePrimer TEF3' 2ttggatcctt tgaatgattc ttatactcag 30329DNAArtificial SequencePrimer XPR5' 3tttccgcggc ccgagattcc ggcctcttc 29431DNAArtificial SequencePrimer XPR3' 4tttccgcgga cacaatatct ggtcaaattt c 31539DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL5 5cccccctcga ggtcgatggt gtcgataagc ttgatatcg 39639DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL6 6cgatatcaag cttatcgaca ccatcgacct cgagggggg 39735DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL9 7tggtaaataa atgatgtcga ctcaggcgac gacgg 35835DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL10 8ccgtcgtcgc ctgagtcgac atcatttatt tacca 35937DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL7 9caaccgattt cgacagttaa ttaataattt gaatcga 371037DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL8 10tcgattcaaa ttattaatta actgtcgaaa tcggttg 371136DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL3 11gtataagaat cattcaccat ggatccacta gttcta 361236DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL4 12tagaactagt ggatccatgg tgaatgattc ttatac 361330DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL1 13cagtgccaaa agccaaggca ctgagctcgt 301431DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL2 14gacgagctca gtgccttggc ttttggcact g 311533DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL61 15acaattccac acaacgtacg agccggaagc ata 331633DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL62 16tatgcttccg gctcgtacgt tgtgtggaat tgt 33171026DNAEscherichia coli 17atgaaaaagc ctgaactcac cgcgacgtct gtcgagaagt ttctgatcga aaagttcgac 60agcgtctccg acctgatgca gctctcggag ggcgaagaat ctcgtgcttt cagcttcgat 120gtaggagggc gtggatatgt cctgcgggta aatagctgcg ccgatggttt ctacaaagat 180cgttatgttt atcggcactt tgcatcggcc gcgctcccga ttccggaagt gcttgacatt 240ggggaattca gcgagagcct gacctattgc atctcccgcc gtgcacaggg tgtcacgttg 300caagacctgc ctgaaaccga actgcccgct gttctgcagc cggtcgcgga ggccatggat 360gcgatcgctg cggccgatct tagccagacg agcgggttcg gcccattcgg accgcaagga 420atcggtcaat acactacatg gcgtgatttc atatgcgcga ttgctgatcc ccatgtgtat 480cactggcaaa ctgtgatgga cgacaccgtc agtgcgtccg tcgcgcaggc tctcgatgag 540ctgatgcttt gggccgagga ctgccccgaa gtccggcacc tcgtgcacgc ggatttcggc 600tccaacaatg tcctgacgga caatggccgc ataacagcgg tcattgactg gagcgaggcg 660atgttcgggg attcccaata cgaggtcgcc aacatcttct tctggaggcc gtggttggct 720tgtatggagc agcagacgcg ctacttcgag cggaggcatc cggagcttgc aggatcgccg 780cggctccggg cgtatatgct ccgcattggt cttgaccaac tctatcagag cttggttgac 840ggcaatttcg atgatgcagc ttgggcgcag ggtcgatgcg acgcaatcgt ccgatccgga 900gccgggactg tcgggcgtac acaaatcgcc cgcagaagcg cggccgtctg gaccgatggc 960tgtgtagaag tactcgccga tagtggaaac cgacgcccca gcactcgtcc gagggcaaag 1020gaatag 102618341PRTEscherichia coli 18Met Lys Lys Pro Glu Leu Thr Ala Thr Ser Val Glu Lys Phe Leu Ile1 5 10 15Glu Lys Phe Asp Ser Val Ser Asp Leu Met Gln Leu Ser Glu Gly Glu 20 25 30Glu Ser Arg Ala Phe Ser Phe Asp Val Gly Gly Arg Gly Tyr Val Leu 35 40 45Arg Val Asn Ser Cys Ala Asp Gly Phe Tyr Lys Asp Arg Tyr Val Tyr 50 55 60Arg His Phe Ala Ser Ala Ala Leu Pro Ile Pro Glu Val Leu Asp Ile65 70 75 80Gly Glu Phe Ser Glu Ser Leu Thr Tyr Cys Ile Ser Arg Arg Ala Gln 85 90 95Gly Val Thr Leu Gln Asp Leu Pro Glu Thr Glu Leu Pro Ala Val Leu 100 105 110Gln Pro Val Ala Glu Ala Met Asp Ala Ile Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Ser 115 120 125Gln Thr Ser Gly Phe Gly Pro Phe Gly Pro Gln Gly Ile Gly Gln Tyr 130 135 140Thr Thr Trp Arg Asp Phe Ile Cys Ala Ile Ala Asp Pro His Val Tyr145 150 155 160His Trp Gln Thr Val Met Asp Asp Thr Val Ser Ala Ser Val Ala Gln 165 170 175Ala Leu Asp Glu Leu Met Leu Trp Ala Glu Asp Cys Pro Glu Val Arg 180 185 190His Leu Val His Ala Asp Phe Gly Ser Asn Asn Val Leu Thr Asp Asn 195 200 205Gly Arg Ile Thr Ala Val Ile Asp Trp Ser Glu Ala Met Phe Gly Asp 210 215 220Ser Gln Tyr Glu Val Ala Asn Ile Phe Phe Trp Arg Pro Trp Leu Ala225 230 235 240Cys Met Glu Gln Gln Thr Arg Tyr Phe Glu Arg Arg His Pro Glu Leu 245 250 255Ala Gly Ser Pro Arg Leu Arg Ala Tyr Met Leu Arg Ile Gly Leu Asp 260 265 270Gln Leu Tyr Gln Ser Leu Val Asp Gly Asn Phe Asp Asp Ala Ala Trp 275 280 285Ala Gln Gly Arg Cys Asp Ala Ile Val Arg Ser Gly Ala Gly Thr Val 290 295 300Gly Arg Thr Gln Ile Ala Arg Arg Ser Ala Ala Val Trp Thr Asp Gly305 310 315 320Cys Val Glu Val Leu Ala Asp Ser Gly Asn Arg Arg Pro Ser Thr Arg 325 330 335Pro Arg Ala Lys Glu 340191710DNAYarrowia lipolytica 19gtcgacgagt atctgtctga ctcgtcattg ccgcctttgg agtacgactc caactatgag 60tgtgcttgga tcactttgac gatacattct tcgttggagg ctgtgggtct gacagctgcg 120ttttcggcgc ggttggccga caacaatatc agctgcaacg tcattgctgg ctttcatcat 180gatcacattt ttgtcggcaa aggcgacgcc cagagagcca ttgacgttct ttctaatttg 240gaccgatagc cgtatagtcc agtctatcta taagttcaac taactcgtaa ctattaccat 300aacatatact tcactgcccc agataaggtt ccgataaaaa gttctgcaga ctaaatttat 360ttcagtctcc tcttcaccac caaaatgccc tcctacgaag ctcgagctaa cgtccacaag 420tccgcctttg ccgctcgagt gctcaagctc gtggcagcca agaaaaccaa cctgtgtgct 480tctctggatg ttaccaccac caaggagctc attgagcttg ccgataaggt cggaccttat 540gtgtgcatga tcaagaccca tatcgacatc attgacgact tcacctacgc cggcactgtg 600ctccccctca aggaacttgc tcttaagcac ggtttcttcc tgttcgagga cagaaagttc 660gcagatattg gcaacactgt caagcaccag tacaagaacg gtgtctaccg aatcgccgag 720tggtccgata tcaccaacgc ccacggtgta cccggaaccg gaatcattgc tggcctgcga 780gctggtgccg aggaaactgt ctctgaacag aagaaggagg acgtctctga ctacgagaac 840tcccagtaca aggagttcct ggtcccctct cccaacgaga agctggccag aggtctgctc 900atgctggccg agctgtcttg caagggctct ctggccactg gcgagtactc caagcagacc 960attgagcttg cccgatccga ccccgagttt gtggttggct tcattgccca gaaccgacct 1020aagggcgact ctgaggactg gcttattctg acccccgggg tgggtcttga cgacaaggga 1080gacgctctcg gacagcagta ccgaactgtt gaggatgtca tgtctaccgg aacggatatc 1140ataattgtcg gccgaggtct gtacggccag aaccgagatc ctattgagga ggccaagcga 1200taccagaagg ctggctggga ggcttaccag aagattaact gttagaggtt agactatgga 1260tatgtcattt aactgtgtat atagagagcg tgcaagtatg gagcgcttgt tcagcttgta 1320tgatggtcag acgacctgtc tgatcgagta tgtatgatac tgcacaacct gtgtatccgc 1380atgatctgtc caatggggca tgttgttgtg tttctcgata cggagatgct gggtacaagt 1440agctaatacg attgaactac ttatacttat atgaggcttg aagaaagctg acttgtgtat 1500gacttattct caactacatc cccagtcaca ataccaccac tgcactacca ctacaccaaa 1560accatgatca aaccacccat ggacttcctg gaggcagaag aacttgttat ggaaaagctc 1620aagagagaga agccaagata ctatcaagac atgtgtcgca acttcaagga ggaccaagct 1680ctgtacaccg agaaacaggc ctttgtcgac 171020286PRTYarrowia lipolytica 20Met Pro Ser Tyr Glu Ala Arg Ala Asn Val His Lys Ser Ala Phe Ala1 5 10 15Ala Arg Val Leu Lys Leu Val Ala Ala Lys Lys Thr Asn Leu Cys Ala 20 25 30Ser Leu Asp Val Thr Thr Thr Lys Glu Leu Ile Glu Leu Ala Asp Lys 35 40 45Val Gly Pro Tyr Val Cys Met Ile Lys Thr His Ile Asp Ile Ile Asp 50 55 60Asp Phe Thr Tyr Ala Gly Thr Val Leu Pro Leu Lys Glu Leu Ala Leu65 70 75 80Lys His Gly Phe Phe Leu Phe Glu Asp Arg Lys Phe Ala Asp Ile Gly 85 90 95Asn Thr Val Lys His Gln Tyr Lys Asn Gly Val Tyr Arg Ile Ala Glu 100 105 110Trp Ser Asp Ile Thr Asn Ala His Gly Val Pro Gly Thr Gly Ile Ile 115 120 125Ala Gly Leu Arg Ala Gly Ala Glu Glu Thr Val Ser Glu Gln Lys Lys 130 135 140Glu Asp Val Ser Asp Tyr Glu Asn Ser Gln Tyr Lys Glu Phe Leu Val145 150 155 160Pro Ser Pro Asn Glu Lys Leu Ala Arg Gly Leu Leu Met Leu Ala Glu 165 170 175Leu Ser Cys Lys Gly Ser Leu Ala Thr Gly Glu Tyr Ser Lys Gln Thr 180 185 190Ile Glu Leu Ala Arg Ser Asp Pro Glu Phe Val Val Gly Phe Ile Ala 195 200 205Gln Asn Arg Pro Lys Gly Asp Ser Glu Asp Trp Leu Ile Leu Thr Pro 210 215 220Gly Val Gly Leu Asp Asp Lys Gly Asp Ala Leu Gly Gln Gln Tyr Arg225 230 235 240Thr Val Glu Asp Val Met Ser Thr Gly Thr Asp Ile Ile Ile Val Gly 245 250 255Arg Gly Leu Tyr Gly Gln Asn Arg Asp Pro Ile Glu Glu Ala Lys Arg 260 265 270Tyr Gln Lys Ala Gly Trp Glu Ala Tyr Gln Lys Ile Asn Cys 275 280 2852135DNAArtificial SequencePrimer KU5 21tttgcccggg cgagtatctg tctgactcgt cattg 352233DNAArtificial SequencePrimer KU3 22aaagcccggg caaaggcctg tttctcggtg tac 332329DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P7 23aactacatct tcggctayca yccncaygg 292410PRTArtificial SequenceDGAT2 Consensus Sequence 24Asn Tyr Ile Phe Gly Tyr His Pro His Gly1 5 102529DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P8 25agggactcgg aggcgccgcc ncanacdat 292610PRTArtificial SequenceDGAT2 Consensus Sequence 26Ile Val Val Gly Gly Ala Ser Glu Ser Leu1 5 102723DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P80 27gggcatccct gtttctctta tga 232823DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P81 28aacttccgag tgcctctcta cag 232924DNAArtificial SequenceLinkAmp Primer 1 29aggcacagtc gaggacttat ccta 24302119DNAYarrowia lipolyticaCDS(291)..(1835)DGAT2 opening reading frame, comprising 2 smaller internal opening reading frames 30aaacgcaccc actgctcgtc ctccttgctc ctcgaaaccg actcctctac acacgtcaaa 60tccgaggttg aaatcttccc cacatttggc agccaaacca gcacatccca gcaacctcgc 120acagcgccga aatcgacctg tcgacttggc cacaaaaaaa agcaccggct ctgcaacagt 180tctcacgacc aattacgtac aagtacgaaa tcgttcgtgg accgtgactg ataagctccc 240actttttctt ctaacaacag gcaacagaca agtcacacaa aacaaaagct atg act 296 Met Thr 1atc gac tca caa tac tac aag tcg cga gac aaa aac gac acg gca ccc 344Ile Asp Ser Gln Tyr Tyr Lys Ser Arg Asp Lys Asn Asp Thr Ala Pro 5 10 15aaa atc gcg gga atc cga tat gcc ccg cta tcg aca cca tta ctc aac 392Lys Ile Ala Gly Ile Arg Tyr Ala Pro Leu Ser Thr Pro Leu Leu Asn 20 25 30cga tgt gag acc ttc tct ctg gtc tgg cac att ttc agc att ccc act 440Arg Cys Glu Thr Phe Ser Leu Val Trp His Ile Phe Ser Ile Pro Thr35 40 45 50ttc ctc aca att ttc atg cta tgc tgc gca att cca ctg ctc tgg cca 488Phe Leu Thr Ile Phe Met Leu Cys Cys Ala Ile Pro Leu Leu Trp Pro 55 60 65ttt gtg att gcg tat gta gtg tac gct gtt aaa gac gac tcc ccg tcc 536Phe Val Ile Ala Tyr Val Val Tyr Ala Val Lys Asp Asp Ser Pro Ser 70 75 80aac gga gga gtg gtc aag cga tac tcg cct att tca aga aac ttc ttc 584Asn Gly Gly Val Val Lys Arg Tyr Ser Pro Ile Ser Arg Asn Phe Phe 85 90 95atc tgg aag ctc ttt ggc cgc tac ttc ccc ata act ctg cac aag acg 632Ile Trp Lys Leu Phe Gly Arg Tyr Phe Pro Ile Thr Leu His Lys Thr 100 105 110gtg gat ctg gag ccc acg cac aca tac tac cct ctg gac gtc cag gag 680Val Asp Leu Glu Pro Thr His Thr Tyr Tyr Pro Leu Asp Val Gln Glu115 120 125 130tat cac ctg att gct gag aga tac tgg ccg cag aac aag tac ctc cga 728Tyr His Leu Ile Ala Glu Arg Tyr Trp Pro Gln Asn Lys Tyr Leu Arg 135 140 145gca atc atc tcc acc atc gag tac ttt ctg ccc gcc ttc atg aaa cgg 776Ala Ile Ile Ser Thr Ile Glu Tyr Phe Leu Pro Ala Phe Met Lys Arg 150 155 160tct ctt tct atc aac gag cag gag cag cct gcc gag cga gat cct ctc 824Ser Leu Ser Ile Asn Glu Gln Glu Gln Pro Ala Glu Arg Asp Pro Leu 165 170 175ctg tct ccc gtt tct ccc agc tct ccg ggt tct caa cct gac aag tgg 872Leu Ser Pro Val Ser Pro Ser Ser Pro Gly Ser Gln Pro Asp Lys Trp 180 185 190att aac cac gac agc aga tat agc cgt gga gaa tca tct ggc tcc aac 920Ile Asn His Asp Ser Arg Tyr Ser Arg Gly Glu Ser Ser Gly Ser Asn195 200 205 210ggc cac gcc tcg ggc tcc gaa ctt aac ggc aac ggc aac aat ggc acc 968Gly His Ala Ser Gly Ser Glu Leu Asn Gly Asn Gly Asn Asn Gly Thr 215 220 225act aac cga cga cct ttg tcg tcc gcc tct gct ggc tcc act gca tct 1016Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Leu Ser Ser Ala Ser Ala Gly Ser Thr Ala Ser 230 235 240gat tcc acg ctt ctt aac ggg tcc ctc aac tcc tac gcc aac cag atc 1064Asp Ser Thr Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Asn Ser Tyr Ala Asn Gln Ile 245 250 255att ggc gaa aac gac cca cag ctg tcg ccc aca aaa ctc aag ccc act 1112Ile Gly Glu Asn Asp Pro Gln Leu Ser Pro Thr Lys Leu Lys Pro Thr 260 265 270ggc aga aaa tac atc ttc ggc tac cac ccc cac ggc att atc ggc atg 1160Gly Arg Lys Tyr Ile Phe Gly Tyr His Pro His Gly Ile Ile Gly Met275 280 285 290gga gcc ttt ggt gga att gcc acc gag gga gct gga tgg tcc aag ctc 1208Gly Ala Phe Gly Gly Ile Ala Thr Glu Gly Ala Gly Trp Ser Lys Leu 295 300 305ttt ccg ggc atc cct gtt tct ctt atg act ctc acc aac aac ttc cga 1256Phe Pro Gly Ile Pro Val Ser Leu Met Thr Leu Thr Asn Asn Phe Arg 310 315 320gtg cct ctc tac aga gag tac ctc atg agt ctg gga gtc gct tct gtc 1304Val Pro Leu Tyr Arg Glu Tyr Leu Met Ser Leu Gly Val Ala Ser Val 325 330 335tcc aag aag tcc tgc aag gcc ctc ctc aag cga aac cag tct atc tgc 1352Ser Lys Lys Ser Cys Lys Ala Leu Leu Lys Arg Asn Gln Ser Ile Cys 340 345 350att gtc gtt ggt gga gca cag gaa agt ctt ctg gcc aga ccc ggt gtc 1400Ile Val Val Gly Gly Ala Gln Glu Ser Leu Leu Ala Arg Pro Gly Val355 360 365 370atg gac ctg gtg cta ctc aag cga aag ggt ttt gtt cga ctt ggt atg 1448Met Asp Leu Val Leu Leu Lys Arg Lys Gly Phe Val Arg Leu Gly Met 375 380 385gag gtc gga aat gtc gcc ctt gtt ccc atc atg gcc ttt ggt gag aac 1496Glu Val Gly Asn Val Ala Leu Val Pro Ile Met Ala Phe Gly Glu Asn 390 395 400gac ctc tat gac cag gtt agc aac gac aag tcg tcc aag ctg tac cga 1544Asp Leu Tyr Asp Gln Val Ser Asn Asp Lys Ser Ser Lys Leu Tyr Arg 405 410 415ttc cag cag ttt gtc aag aac ttc ctt gga ttc acc ctt cct ttg atg 1592Phe Gln Gln Phe Val Lys Asn Phe Leu Gly Phe Thr Leu Pro Leu Met 420 425 430cat gcc cga ggc gtc ttc aac tac gat gtc ggt ctt gtc ccc tac agg 1640His Ala Arg Gly Val Phe Asn Tyr Asp Val Gly Leu Val Pro Tyr Arg435 440 445 450cga ccc gtc aac att gtg gtt ggt tcc ccc att gac ttg cct tat ctc 1688Arg Pro Val Asn Ile Val Val Gly Ser Pro Ile Asp Leu Pro Tyr Leu 455 460 465cca cac ccc acc gac gaa gaa gtg tcc gaa tac cac gac cga tac atc 1736Pro His Pro Thr Asp Glu Glu Val Ser Glu Tyr His Asp Arg Tyr Ile 470 475 480gcc gag ctg cag cga atc tac aac gag cac aag gat gaa tat ttc atc 1784Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Ile Tyr Asn Glu His Lys Asp Glu Tyr Phe Ile 485 490 495gat tgg acc gag gag ggc aaa gga gcc cca gag ttc cga atg att gag 1832Asp Trp Thr Glu Glu Gly Lys Gly Ala Pro Glu Phe Arg Met Ile Glu 500 505 510taa ggaaaactgc ctgggttagg caaatagcta atgagtattt ttttgatggc 1885aaccaaatgt agaaagaaaa aaaaaaaaaa agaaaaaaaa aagagaatat tatatctatg 1945taattctatt aaaagctctg ttgagtgagc ggaataaata ctgttgaaga ggggattgtg 2005tagagatctg tttactcaat ggcaaactca tctgggggag atccttccac tgtgggaagc 2065tcctggatag cctttgcatc ggggttcaag aagaccattg tgaacagccc ttga 211931514PRTYarrowia lipolytica 31Met Thr Ile Asp Ser Gln Tyr Tyr Lys Ser Arg Asp Lys Asn Asp Thr1 5 10

15Ala Pro Lys Ile Ala Gly Ile Arg Tyr Ala Pro Leu Ser Thr Pro Leu 20 25 30Leu Asn Arg Cys Glu Thr Phe Ser Leu Val Trp His Ile Phe Ser Ile 35 40 45Pro Thr Phe Leu Thr Ile Phe Met Leu Cys Cys Ala Ile Pro Leu Leu 50 55 60Trp Pro Phe Val Ile Ala Tyr Val Val Tyr Ala Val Lys Asp Asp Ser65 70 75 80Pro Ser Asn Gly Gly Val Val Lys Arg Tyr Ser Pro Ile Ser Arg Asn 85 90 95Phe Phe Ile Trp Lys Leu Phe Gly Arg Tyr Phe Pro Ile Thr Leu His 100 105 110Lys Thr Val Asp Leu Glu Pro Thr His Thr Tyr Tyr Pro Leu Asp Val 115 120 125Gln Glu Tyr His Leu Ile Ala Glu Arg Tyr Trp Pro Gln Asn Lys Tyr 130 135 140Leu Arg Ala Ile Ile Ser Thr Ile Glu Tyr Phe Leu Pro Ala Phe Met145 150 155 160Lys Arg Ser Leu Ser Ile Asn Glu Gln Glu Gln Pro Ala Glu Arg Asp 165 170 175Pro Leu Leu Ser Pro Val Ser Pro Ser Ser Pro Gly Ser Gln Pro Asp 180 185 190Lys Trp Ile Asn His Asp Ser Arg Tyr Ser Arg Gly Glu Ser Ser Gly 195 200 205Ser Asn Gly His Ala Ser Gly Ser Glu Leu Asn Gly Asn Gly Asn Asn 210 215 220Gly Thr Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Leu Ser Ser Ala Ser Ala Gly Ser Thr225 230 235 240Ala Ser Asp Ser Thr Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Asn Ser Tyr Ala Asn 245 250 255Gln Ile Ile Gly Glu Asn Asp Pro Gln Leu Ser Pro Thr Lys Leu Lys 260 265 270Pro Thr Gly Arg Lys Tyr Ile Phe Gly Tyr His Pro His Gly Ile Ile 275 280 285Gly Met Gly Ala Phe Gly Gly Ile Ala Thr Glu Gly Ala Gly Trp Ser 290 295 300Lys Leu Phe Pro Gly Ile Pro Val Ser Leu Met Thr Leu Thr Asn Asn305 310 315 320Phe Arg Val Pro Leu Tyr Arg Glu Tyr Leu Met Ser Leu Gly Val Ala 325 330 335Ser Val Ser Lys Lys Ser Cys Lys Ala Leu Leu Lys Arg Asn Gln Ser 340 345 350Ile Cys Ile Val Val Gly Gly Ala Gln Glu Ser Leu Leu Ala Arg Pro 355 360 365Gly Val Met Asp Leu Val Leu Leu Lys Arg Lys Gly Phe Val Arg Leu 370 375 380Gly Met Glu Val Gly Asn Val Ala Leu Val Pro Ile Met Ala Phe Gly385 390 395 400Glu Asn Asp Leu Tyr Asp Gln Val Ser Asn Asp Lys Ser Ser Lys Leu 405 410 415Tyr Arg Phe Gln Gln Phe Val Lys Asn Phe Leu Gly Phe Thr Leu Pro 420 425 430Leu Met His Ala Arg Gly Val Phe Asn Tyr Asp Val Gly Leu Val Pro 435 440 445Tyr Arg Arg Pro Val Asn Ile Val Val Gly Ser Pro Ile Asp Leu Pro 450 455 460Tyr Leu Pro His Pro Thr Asp Glu Glu Val Ser Glu Tyr His Asp Arg465 470 475 480Tyr Ile Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Ile Tyr Asn Glu His Lys Asp Glu Tyr 485 490 495Phe Ile Asp Trp Thr Glu Glu Gly Lys Gly Ala Pro Glu Phe Arg Met 500 505 510Ile Glu 3229DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P95 32ggcaagctta ttgtcgttgg tggagcaca 293335DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P96 33aattccacca gatctgtcgt ggtattcgga cactt 353439DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P97 34ataccacgac agatctggtg gaattgccac cgagggagc 393530DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P98 35gcggaattcg cagatagact ggtttcgctt 303622DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P115 36aactacatct tcggctatca cc 223722DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P116 37tgaacaagcg tagattccag ac 223822DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P112 38cacccttgct cggcgatgta tc 223929DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P26 39atgctggaca aggagaccgg nctngaycc 294010PRTArtificial SequencePDAT Consensus Sequence 40Met Leu Asp Lys Glu Thr Gly Leu Asp Pro1 5 104133DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P27 41ccagatgacg tcgccgccct tgggnarcat nga 334211PRTArtificial SequencePDAT Consensus Sequence 42Ser Met Leu Pro Lys Gly Gly Glu Val Ile Trp1 5 104334DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P39 43ggcggtaccg gatcctcaat cgaagagact aagc 344430DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P42 44ccggaattca gctttgagct tggagaagta 30452326DNAYarrowia lipolyticamisc_feature(2271)..(2271)n is a, c, g, or t 45tattaatatt atgctcttca tgcaccagca aaataaccga aacgcgcata tgatagtggg 60attctcgatt tgcccggcag acaaacgccg ctaaaatcgc cacagtatcg aattttaatt 120gaatacgaac gtcaattccg gcttatcctt ctagcagttg tctcccgcag ctcgctccat 180gactaatcat tcacgcgaca tgtctcagct accccggtct ggctcatgta aaaaaagtgt 240aatcggcttt tttccggttg atcacaacca tcaatgacac aacctgtgaa tcggaaggcg 300actgtcgagc gggtcgagcc agcagtggag gtggctgact ccgagtccga ggccaagacc 360gacgtccacg ttcaccacca tcatcaccac cacaagcgaa aatccgtcaa gggcaagatt 420ctcaacttct tcacccgaag tcgacgtatc accttcgtcc tcggcgccgt ggtcggtgtg 480atagccgcgg gatactacgc tgcgccaccg gagctcagca ttgatatcga tgctcttctc 540ggcgacttgc cctcgttcga ctttgacgct ctatctctcg acaacttgtc catggacagt 600gtgtcggact ttgtacaaga catgaaatcg cggtttccga ccaagattct gcaggaggcg 660gccaagatcg agaagcacca gaaaagcgaa cagaaggctg ccccttttgc tgtgggcaag 720gctatgaaga gcgagggact caacgccaag tacccggtgg tgctggtgcc cggcgtcatc 780tccacgggac tggagagctg gtccctggag ggaaccgagg agtgtcccac cgagtcgcac 840ttcagaaagc gaatgtgggg ctcctggtac atgatccgag tcatgctgct ggacaagtac 900tgctggctgc agaacctgat gctggacaca gagaccggtc tagaccctcc ccatttcaag 960ctgcgagccg cccagggatt tgcctccgcc gacttcttta tggcaggcta ctggctgtgg 1020aacaagctgc tcgagaacct ggctgttatt ggatacgata cggatacaat gtctgctgcg 1080gcgtacgact ggagactgtc ctaccctgat ttggagcacc gagacggata cttctccaag 1140ctcaaagctt caatcgaaga gactaagcgt atgacaggtg agaagacagt tctgacgggc 1200cattccatgg gctcccaggt catcttctac ttcatgaagt gggctgaggc cgagggatat 1260ggaggaggag gtcccaactg ggtcaatgac catattgaat cctttgtcga catttccggc 1320tccatgctgg gtactcccaa gaccctggtt gctcttctgt ctggagaaat gaaggatacc 1380gtgcagctga acgcgatggc tgtgtatgga ctggagcagt tcttctctcg acgagagcga 1440gccgatctgc tgcgaacatg gggaggaatt gcttccatga ttcccaaggg tggtaaggct 1500atctggggtg atcattctgg agcccctgat gacgagcccg gccagaatgt cacctttggc 1560aacttcatca agttcaagga gtccttgacc gagtactctg ctaagaacct caccatggat 1620gaaaccgttg acttcctgta ttctcagtct cccgagtggt ttgtgaaccg aaccgagggt 1680gcttactcct ttggaattgc caagactcga aagcaggttg agcagaatga gaagcgacct 1740tctacctgga gcaaccctct ggaagctgct ctccccaatg cccccgatct caagatctac 1800tgcttctatg gagtcggtaa ggataccgag cgagcctact actaccagga tgagcccaat 1860cccgagcaga ccaacttgaa cgtcagtatc gctggaaacg accctgatgg tgtgcttatg 1920ggtcagggcg atggaaccgt ctcccttgtg acccatacca tgtgtcaccg atggaaggac 1980gagaattcca agttcaaccc tggtaacgcc caggtcaagg ttgtggagat gttgcaccag 2040cctgatcgac ttgatattcg aggcggtgct cagactgccg agcatgtgga cattctgggg 2100cgttctgagt tgaacgagat ggttctgaag gtggctagtg gaaagggaaa tgagattgaa 2160gagagagtca tctccaacat tgatgagtgg gtgtggaaga ttgatctcgg cagcaattag 2220agagtccgtt ttgtagagta atatgttttg tatatcacac tgatggagaa nggcgttcga 2280tttctcatga ttccatgtgg ttgtttaatg agcacgtaga acgacg 232646648PRTYarrowia lipolytica 46Met Thr Gln Pro Val Asn Arg Lys Ala Thr Val Glu Arg Val Glu Pro1 5 10 15Ala Val Glu Val Ala Asp Ser Glu Ser Glu Ala Lys Thr Asp Val His 20 25 30Val His His His His His His His Lys Arg Lys Ser Val Lys Gly Lys 35 40 45Ile Leu Asn Phe Phe Thr Arg Ser Arg Arg Ile Thr Phe Val Leu Gly 50 55 60Ala Val Val Gly Val Ile Ala Ala Gly Tyr Tyr Ala Ala Pro Pro Glu65 70 75 80Leu Ser Ile Asp Ile Asp Ala Leu Leu Gly Asp Leu Pro Ser Phe Asp 85 90 95Phe Asp Ala Leu Ser Leu Asp Asn Leu Ser Met Asp Ser Val Ser Asp 100 105 110Phe Val Gln Asp Met Lys Ser Arg Phe Pro Thr Lys Ile Leu Gln Glu 115 120 125Ala Ala Lys Ile Glu Lys His Gln Lys Ser Glu Gln Lys Ala Ala Pro 130 135 140Phe Ala Val Gly Lys Ala Met Lys Ser Glu Gly Leu Asn Ala Lys Tyr145 150 155 160Pro Val Val Leu Val Pro Gly Val Ile Ser Thr Gly Leu Glu Ser Trp 165 170 175Ser Leu Glu Gly Thr Glu Glu Cys Pro Thr Glu Ser His Phe Arg Lys 180 185 190Arg Met Trp Gly Ser Trp Tyr Met Ile Arg Val Met Leu Leu Asp Lys 195 200 205Tyr Cys Trp Leu Gln Asn Leu Met Leu Asp Thr Glu Thr Gly Leu Asp 210 215 220Pro Pro His Phe Lys Leu Arg Ala Ala Gln Gly Phe Ala Ser Ala Asp225 230 235 240Phe Phe Met Ala Gly Tyr Trp Leu Trp Asn Lys Leu Leu Glu Asn Leu 245 250 255Ala Val Ile Gly Tyr Asp Thr Asp Thr Met Ser Ala Ala Ala Tyr Asp 260 265 270Trp Arg Leu Ser Tyr Pro Asp Leu Glu His Arg Asp Gly Tyr Phe Ser 275 280 285Lys Leu Lys Ala Ser Ile Glu Glu Thr Lys Arg Met Thr Gly Glu Lys 290 295 300Thr Val Leu Thr Gly His Ser Met Gly Ser Gln Val Ile Phe Tyr Phe305 310 315 320Met Lys Trp Ala Glu Ala Glu Gly Tyr Gly Gly Gly Gly Pro Asn Trp 325 330 335Val Asn Asp His Ile Glu Ser Phe Val Asp Ile Ser Gly Ser Met Leu 340 345 350Gly Thr Pro Lys Thr Leu Val Ala Leu Leu Ser Gly Glu Met Lys Asp 355 360 365Thr Val Gln Leu Asn Ala Met Ala Val Tyr Gly Leu Glu Gln Phe Phe 370 375 380Ser Arg Arg Glu Arg Ala Asp Leu Leu Arg Thr Trp Gly Gly Ile Ala385 390 395 400Ser Met Ile Pro Lys Gly Gly Lys Ala Ile Trp Gly Asp His Ser Gly 405 410 415Ala Pro Asp Asp Glu Pro Gly Gln Asn Val Thr Phe Gly Asn Phe Ile 420 425 430Lys Phe Lys Glu Ser Leu Thr Glu Tyr Ser Ala Lys Asn Leu Thr Met 435 440 445Asp Glu Thr Val Asp Phe Leu Tyr Ser Gln Ser Pro Glu Trp Phe Val 450 455 460Asn Arg Thr Glu Gly Ala Tyr Ser Phe Gly Ile Ala Lys Thr Arg Lys465 470 475 480Gln Val Glu Gln Asn Glu Lys Arg Pro Ser Thr Trp Ser Asn Pro Leu 485 490 495Glu Ala Ala Leu Pro Asn Ala Pro Asp Leu Lys Ile Tyr Cys Phe Tyr 500 505 510Gly Val Gly Lys Asp Thr Glu Arg Ala Tyr Tyr Tyr Gln Asp Glu Pro 515 520 525Asn Pro Glu Gln Thr Asn Leu Asn Val Ser Ile Ala Gly Asn Asp Pro 530 535 540Asp Gly Val Leu Met Gly Gln Gly Asp Gly Thr Val Ser Leu Val Thr545 550 555 560His Thr Met Cys His Arg Trp Lys Asp Glu Asn Ser Lys Phe Asn Pro 565 570 575Gly Asn Ala Gln Val Lys Val Val Glu Met Leu His Gln Pro Asp Arg 580 585 590Leu Asp Ile Arg Gly Gly Ala Gln Thr Ala Glu His Val Asp Ile Leu 595 600 605Gly Arg Ser Glu Leu Asn Glu Met Val Leu Lys Val Ala Ser Gly Lys 610 615 620Gly Asn Glu Ile Glu Glu Arg Val Ile Ser Asn Ile Asp Glu Trp Val625 630 635 640Trp Lys Ile Asp Leu Gly Ser Asn 6454741DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P41 47cttctgtatt ctagatctca agatcgagaa gcaccagaaa a 414848DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P40 48gcttctcgat cttgagatct agaatacaga agtcaacggt tcatccat 484922DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P51 49tagatagact ggactatacg gc 225020DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P52 50gactgtccta ccctgatttg 205133DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P37 51ccaggtacca agatcgagaa gcaccagaaa agc 335236DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P38 52ctcgaattca gaatacagaa gtcaacggtt catcca 365323DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P79 53tctctgtaga gaggcactcg gaa 235423DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P84 54tgacgccggg caccagcacc acc 235524DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P85 55gtcacctttg gcaacttcat caag 2456971DNAYarrowia lipolytica 56gacgcagtag gatgtcctgc acgggtcttt ttgtggggtg tggagaaagg ggtgcttgga 60gatggaagcc ggtagaaccg ggctgcttgt gcttggagat ggaagccggt agaaccgggc 120tgcttggggg gatttggggc cgctgggctc caaagagggg taggcatttc gttggggtta 180cgtaattgcg gcatttgggt cctgcgcgca tgtcccattg gtcagaatta gtccggatag 240gagacttatc agccaatcac agcgccggat ccacctgtag gttgggttgg gtgggagcac 300ccctccacag agtagagtca aacagcagca gcaacatgat agttgggggt gtgcgtgtta 360aaggaaaaaa aagaagcttg ggttatattc ccgctctatt tagaggttgc gggatagacg 420ccgacggagg gcaatggcgc catggaacct tgcggatatc gatacgccgc ggcggactgc 480gtccgaacca gctccagcag cgttttttcc gggccattga gccgactgcg accccgccaa 540cgtgtcttgg cccacgcact catgtcatgt tggtgttggg aggccacttt ttaagtagca 600caaggcacct agctcgcagc aaggtgtccg aaccaaagaa gcggctgcag tggtgcaaac 660ggggcggaaa cggcgggaaa aagccacggg ggcacgaatt gaggcacgcc ctcgaatttg 720agacgagtca cggccccatt cgcccgcgca atggctcgcc aacgcccggt cttttgcacc 780acatcaggtt accccaagcc aaacctttgt gttaaaaagc ttaacatatt ataccgaacg 840taggtttggg cgggcttgct ccgtctgtcc aaggcaacat ttatataagg gtctgcatcg 900ccggctcaat tgaatctttt ttcttcttct cttctctata ttcattcttg aattaaacac 960acatcaacat g 97157332PRTSacchromyces cerevisiaeMISC_FEATURE(1)..(332)GenBank Accession No. CAA24607 57Met Val Arg Val Ala Ile Asn Gly Phe Gly Arg Ile Gly Arg Leu Val1 5 10 15Met Arg Ile Ala Leu Ser Arg Pro Asn Val Glu Val Val Ala Leu Asn 20 25 30Asp Pro Phe Ile Thr Asn Asp Tyr Ala Ala Tyr Met Phe Lys Tyr Asp 35 40 45Ser Thr His Gly Arg Tyr Ala Gly Glu Val Ser His Asp Asp Lys His 50 55 60Ile Ile Val Asp Gly Lys Lys Ile Ala Thr Tyr Gln Glu Arg Asp Pro65 70 75 80Ala Asn Leu Pro Trp Gly Ser Ser Asn Val Asp Ile Ala Ile Asp Ser 85 90 95Thr Gly Val Phe Lys Glu Leu Asp Thr Ala Gln Lys His Ile Asp Ala 100 105 110Gly Ala Lys Lys Val Val Ile Thr Ala Pro Ser Ser Thr Ala Pro Met 115 120 125Phe Val Met Gly Val Asn Glu Val Lys Tyr Thr Ser Asp Leu Lys Ile 130 135 140Val Ser Asn Ala Ser Cys Thr Thr Asn Cys Leu Ala Pro Leu Ala Lys145 150 155 160Val Ile Asn Asp Ala Phe Gly Ile Glu Glu Gly Leu Met Thr Thr Val 165 170 175His Ser Leu Thr Ala Thr Gln Lys Thr Val Asp Gly Pro Ser His Lys 180 185 190Asp Trp Arg Gly Gly Arg Thr Ala Ser Gly Asn Ile Ile Pro Ser Ser 195 200 205Thr Gly Ala Ala Lys Ala Val Gly Lys Val Leu Pro Glu Leu Gln Gly 210 215 220Lys Leu Thr Gly Met Ala Phe Arg Val Pro Thr Val Asp Val Ser Val225 230 235 240Val Asp Leu Thr Val Lys Leu Asp Lys Glu Thr Thr Tyr Asp Glu Ile 245 250 255Lys Lys Val Val Lys Ala Ala Ala Glu Gly Lys Leu Lys Gly Val Leu 260 265 270Gly Tyr Thr Glu Asp Ala Val Val Ser Ser Asp Phe Leu Gly Asp Ser 275 280 285His Ser Ser Ile Phe Asp Ala Ser Ala Gly Ile Gln Leu Ser Pro Lys 290 295 300Phe Val Lys Leu Val Ser Trp Tyr Asp Asn Glu Tyr Gly Tyr Ser Thr305 310 315 320Arg Val Val Asp Leu Val Glu His Ile Ala Lys Ala 325 33058335PRTSchizosaccharomyces pombeMISC_FEATURE(1)..(335)GenBank Accession No. NP_595236 58Met Ala Ile Pro Lys Val Gly Ile Asn Gly Phe Gly Arg Ile Gly Arg1 5 10 15Ile Val Leu Arg Asn Ala Ile Leu Thr Gly Lys Ile Gln Val Val Ala 20 25 30Val Asn Asp Pro Phe Ile Asp Leu Asp Tyr Met Ala Tyr Met Phe Lys 35 40

45Tyr Asp Ser Thr His Gly Arg Phe Glu Gly Ser Val Glu Thr Lys Gly 50 55 60Gly Lys Leu Val Ile Asp Gly His Ser Ile Asp Val His Asn Glu Arg65 70 75 80Asp Pro Ala Asn Ile Lys Trp Ser Ala Ser Gly Ala Glu Tyr Val Ile 85 90 95Glu Ser Thr Gly Val Phe Thr Thr Lys Glu Thr Ala Ser Ala His Leu 100 105 110Lys Gly Gly Ala Lys Arg Val Ile Ile Ser Ala Pro Ser Lys Asp Ala 115 120 125Pro Met Phe Val Val Gly Val Asn Leu Glu Lys Phe Asn Pro Ser Glu 130 135 140Lys Val Ile Ser Asn Ala Ser Cys Thr Thr Asn Cys Leu Ala Pro Leu145 150 155 160Ala Lys Val Ile Asn Asp Thr Phe Gly Ile Glu Glu Gly Leu Met Thr 165 170 175Thr Val His Ala Thr Thr Ala Thr Gln Lys Thr Val Asp Gly Pro Ser 180 185 190Lys Lys Asp Trp Arg Gly Gly Arg Gly Ala Ser Ala Asn Ile Ile Pro 195 200 205Ser Ser Thr Gly Ala Ala Lys Ala Val Gly Lys Val Ile Pro Ala Leu 210 215 220Asn Gly Lys Leu Thr Gly Met Ala Phe Arg Val Pro Thr Pro Asp Val225 230 235 240Ser Val Val Asp Leu Thr Val Lys Leu Ala Lys Pro Thr Asn Tyr Glu 245 250 255Asp Ile Lys Ala Ala Ile Lys Ala Ala Ser Glu Gly Pro Met Lys Gly 260 265 270Val Leu Gly Tyr Thr Glu Asp Ser Val Val Ser Thr Asp Phe Cys Gly 275 280 285Asp Asn His Ser Ser Ile Phe Asp Ala Ser Ala Gly Ile Gln Leu Ser 290 295 300Pro Gln Phe Val Lys Leu Val Ser Trp Tyr Asp Asn Glu Trp Gly Tyr305 310 315 320Ser His Arg Val Val Asp Leu Val Ala Tyr Thr Ala Ser Lys Asp 325 330 33559338PRTAspergillus oryzaeMISC_FEATURE(1)..(338)GenBank Accession No. AAK08065 59Met Ala Thr Pro Lys Val Gly Ile Asn Gly Phe Gly Arg Ile Gly Arg1 5 10 15Ile Val Phe Arg Asn Ala Ile Ala Ser Gly Asp Val Asp Val Val Ala 20 25 30Val Asn Asp Pro Phe Ile Glu Thr His Tyr Ala Ala Tyr Met Leu Lys 35 40 45Tyr Asp Ser Thr His Gly Arg Phe Gln Gly Thr Ile Glu Thr Tyr Asp 50 55 60Glu Gly Leu Ile Val Asn Gly Lys Lys Ile Arg Phe Phe Ala Glu Arg65 70 75 80Asp Pro Ala Ala Ile Pro Trp Gly Ser Ala Gly Ala Ala Tyr Ile Val 85 90 95Glu Ser Thr Gly Val Phe Thr Thr Thr Glu Lys Ala Ser Ala His Leu 100 105 110Lys Gly Gly Ala Lys Lys Val Ile Ile Ser Ala Pro Ser Ala Asp Ala 115 120 125Pro Met Phe Val Met Gly Val Asn Asn Lys Glu Tyr Lys Thr Asp Ile 130 135 140Asn Val Leu Ser Asn Ala Ser Cys Thr Thr Asn Cys Leu Ala Pro Leu145 150 155 160Ala Lys Val Ile Asn Asp Asn Phe Gly Leu Val Glu Gly Leu Met Thr 165 170 175Thr Val His Ser Tyr Thr Ala Thr Gln Lys Thr Val Asp Ala Pro Ser 180 185 190Ala Lys Asp Trp Arg Gly Gly Arg Thr Ala Ala Gln Asn Ile Ile Pro 195 200 205Ser Ser Thr Gly Ala Ala Lys Ala Val Gly Lys Val Ile Pro Ser Leu 210 215 220Asn Gly Lys Leu Thr Gly Met Ser Met Arg Val Pro Thr Ala Asn Val225 230 235 240Ser Val Val Asp Leu Thr Cys Arg Thr Glu Lys Ala Val Thr Tyr Glu 245 250 255Asp Ile Lys Lys Thr Ile Lys Ala Ala Ser Glu Glu Gly Glu Leu Lys 260 265 270Gly Ile Leu Gly Tyr Thr Glu Asp Asp Ile Val Ser Thr Asp Leu Ile 275 280 285Gly Asp Ala His Ser Ser Ile Phe Asp Ala Lys Ala Gly Ile Ala Leu 290 295 300Asn Glu His Phe Ile Lys Leu Val Ser Trp Tyr Asp Asn Glu Trp Gly305 310 315 320Tyr Ser Arg Arg Val Val Asp Leu Ile Ala Tyr Ile Ser Lys Val Asp 325 330 335Gly Gln60333PRTParalichthys olivaceusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(333)GenBank Accession No. BAA88638 60Met Val Lys Val Gly Ile Asn Gly Phe Gly Arg Ile Gly Arg Leu Val1 5 10 15Thr Arg Ala Ala Phe Thr Ser Lys Lys Val Glu Ile Val Ala Ile Asn 20 25 30Asp Pro Phe Ile Asp Leu Glu Tyr Met Val Tyr Met Phe Lys Tyr Asp 35 40 45Ser Thr His Gly Arg Phe Lys Gly Glu Val Lys Ile Glu Gly Asp Lys 50 55 60Leu Val Ile Asp Gly His Lys Ile Thr Val Phe His Glu Arg Asp Pro65 70 75 80Thr Asn Ile Lys Trp Gly Asp Ala Gly Ala His Tyr Val Val Glu Ser 85 90 95Thr Gly Val Phe Thr Thr Ile Glu Lys Ala Ser Ala His Leu Lys Gly 100 105 110Gly Ala Lys Lys Val Ile Ile Ser Ala Pro Ser Ala Asp Ala Pro Met 115 120 125Phe Val Met Gly Val Asn His Glu Lys Tyr Asp Lys Ser Leu Gln Val 130 135 140Val Ser Asn Ala Ser Cys Thr Thr Asn Cys Leu Ala Pro Leu Ala Lys145 150 155 160Val Ile Asn Asp Asn Phe Gly Ile Ile Glu Gly Leu Met Ser Thr Val 165 170 175His Ala Ile Thr Ala Thr Gln Lys Thr Val Asp Gly Pro Ser Gly Lys 180 185 190Leu Trp Arg Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala Ser Gln Asn Ile Ile Pro Ala Ser 195 200 205Thr Gly Ala Ala Lys Ala Val Gly Lys Val Ile Pro Glu Leu Asn Gly 210 215 220Lys Leu Thr Gly Met Ala Phe Arg Val Pro Thr Pro Asn Val Ser Val225 230 235 240Val Asp Leu Thr Val Arg Leu Glu Lys Pro Ala Ser Tyr Glu Asn Ile 245 250 255Lys Lys Val Val Lys Ala Ala Ala Glu Gly Pro Met Lys Gly Tyr Leu 260 265 270Ala Tyr Thr Glu His Gln Val Val Ser Thr Asp Phe Asn Gly Asp Thr 275 280 285His Ser Ser Ile Phe Asp Ala Gly Ala Gly Ile Ala Leu Asn Asp His 290 295 300Phe Val Lys Leu Val Ser Trp Tyr Asp Asn Glu Phe Ala Tyr Ser Asn305 310 315 320Arg Val Cys Asp Leu Met Ala His Met Ala Ser Lys Glu 325 33061333PRTXenopus laevisMISC_FEATURE(1)..(333)GenBank Accession No. P51469 61Met Val Lys Val Gly Ile Asn Gly Phe Gly Cys Ile Gly Arg Leu Val1 5 10 15Thr Arg Ala Ala Phe Asp Ser Gly Lys Val Gln Val Val Ala Ile Asn 20 25 30Asp Pro Phe Ile Asp Leu Asp Tyr Met Val Tyr Met Phe Lys Tyr Asp 35 40 45Ser Thr His Gly Arg Phe Lys Gly Thr Val Lys Ala Glu Asn Gly Lys 50 55 60Leu Ile Ile Asn Asp Gln Val Ile Thr Val Phe Gln Glu Arg Asp Pro65 70 75 80Ser Ser Ile Lys Trp Gly Asp Ala Gly Ala Val Tyr Val Val Glu Ser 85 90 95Thr Gly Val Phe Thr Thr Thr Glu Lys Ala Ser Leu His Leu Lys Gly 100 105 110Gly Ala Lys Arg Val Val Ile Ser Ala Pro Ser Ala Asp Ala Pro Met 115 120 125Phe Val Val Gly Val Asn His Glu Lys Tyr Glu Asn Ser Leu Lys Val 130 135 140Val Ser Asn Ala Ser Cys Thr Thr Asn Cys Leu Ala Pro Leu Ala Lys145 150 155 160Val Ile Asn Asp Asn Phe Gly Ile Val Glu Gly Leu Met Thr Thr Val 165 170 175His Ala Phe Thr Ala Thr Gln Lys Thr Val Asp Gly Pro Ser Gly Lys 180 185 190Leu Trp Arg Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala Gly Gln Asn Ile Ile Pro Ala Ser 195 200 205Thr Gly Ala Ala Lys Ala Val Gly Lys Val Ile Pro Glu Leu Asn Gly 210 215 220Lys Ile Thr Gly Met Ala Phe Arg Val Pro Thr Pro Asn Val Ser Val225 230 235 240Val Asp Leu Thr Cys Arg Leu Gln Lys Pro Ala Lys Tyr Asp Asp Ile 245 250 255Lys Ala Ala Ile Lys Thr Ala Ser Glu Gly Pro Met Lys Gly Ile Leu 260 265 270Gly Tyr Thr Gln Asp Gln Val Val Ser Thr Asp Phe Asn Gly Asp Thr 275 280 285His Ser Ser Ile Phe Asp Ala Asp Ala Gly Ile Ala Leu Asn Glu Asn 290 295 300Phe Val Lys Leu Val Ser Trp Tyr Asp Asn Glu Cys Gly Tyr Ser Asn305 310 315 320Arg Val Val Asp Leu Val Cys His Met Ala Ser Lys Glu 325 33062333PRTGallus gallusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(333)GenBank Accession No. DECHG3 62Met Val Lys Val Gly Val Asn Gly Phe Gly Arg Ile Gly Arg Leu Val1 5 10 15Thr Arg Ala Ala Val Leu Ser Gly Lys Val Gln Val Val Ala Ile Asn 20 25 30Asp Pro Phe Ile Asp Leu Asn Tyr Met Val Tyr Met Phe Lys Tyr Asp 35 40 45Ser Thr His Gly His Phe Lys Gly Thr Val Lys Ala Glu Asn Gly Lys 50 55 60Leu Val Ile Asn Gly His Ala Ile Thr Ile Phe Gln Glu Arg Asp Pro65 70 75 80Ser Asn Ile Lys Trp Ala Asp Ala Gly Ala Glu Tyr Val Val Glu Ser 85 90 95Thr Gly Val Phe Thr Thr Met Glu Lys Ala Gly Ala His Leu Lys Gly 100 105 110Gly Ala Lys Arg Val Ile Ile Ser Ala Pro Ser Ala Asp Ala Pro Met 115 120 125Phe Val Met Gly Val Asn His Glu Lys Tyr Asp Lys Ser Leu Lys Ile 130 135 140Val Ser Asn Ala Ser Cys Thr Thr Asn Cys Leu Ala Pro Leu Ala Lys145 150 155 160Val Ile His Asp Asn Phe Gly Ile Val Glu Gly Leu Met Thr Thr Val 165 170 175His Ala Ile Thr Ala Thr Gln Lys Thr Val Asp Gly Pro Ser Gly Lys 180 185 190Leu Trp Arg Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala Ala Gln Asn Ile Ile Pro Ala Ser 195 200 205Thr Gly Ala Ala Lys Ala Val Gly Lys Val Ile Pro Glu Leu Asn Gly 210 215 220Lys Leu Thr Gly Met Ala Phe Arg Val Pro Thr Pro Asn Val Ser Val225 230 235 240Val Asp Leu Thr Cys Arg Leu Glu Lys Pro Ala Lys Tyr Asp Asp Ile 245 250 255Lys Arg Val Val Lys Ala Ala Ala Asp Gly Pro Leu Lys Gly Ile Leu 260 265 270Gly Tyr Thr Glu Asp Gln Val Val Ser Cys Asp Phe Asn Gly Asp Ser 275 280 285His Ser Ser Thr Phe Asp Ala Gly Ala Gly Ile Ala Leu Asn Asp His 290 295 300Phe Val Lys Leu Val Ser Trp Tyr Asp Asn Glu Phe Gly Tyr Ser Asn305 310 315 320Arg Val Val Asp Leu Met Val His Met Ala Ser Lys Glu 325 330637PRTArtificial SequenceConsensus GPD sequence 63Lys Tyr Asp Ser Thr His Gly1 5647PRTArtificial SequenceConsensus GPD sequence 64Thr Gly Ala Ala Lys Ala Val1 56520DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL193 65aagtacgayt cbacycaygg 206620DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL194 66acrgccttrg crgcdccrgt 2067507DNAYarrowia lipolytica 67aagtacgact ccacccacgg ccgattcaag ggcaaggtcg aggccaagga cggcggtctg 60atcatcgacg gcaagcacat ccaggtcttc ggtgagcgag acccctccaa catcccctgg 120ggtaaggccg gtgccgacta cgttgtcgag tccaccggtg tcttcaccgg caaggaggct 180gcctccgccc acctcaaggg tggtgccaag aaggtcatca tctccgcccc ctccggtgac 240gcccccatgt tcgttgtcgg tgtcaacctc gacgcctaca agcccgacat gaccgtcatc 300tccaacgctt cttgtaccac caactgtctg gctccccttg ccaaggttgt caacgacaag 360tacggaatca ttgagggtct catgaccacc gtccactcca tcaccgccac ccagaagacc 420gttgacggtc cttcccacaa ggactggcga ggtggccgaa ccgcctctgg taacatcatc 480ccctcttcca ccggagccgc caaggct 50768169PRTYarrowia lipolytica 68Lys Tyr Asp Ser Thr His Gly Arg Phe Lys Gly Lys Val Glu Ala Lys1 5 10 15Asp Gly Gly Leu Ile Ile Asp Gly Lys His Ile Gln Val Phe Gly Glu 20 25 30Arg Asp Pro Ser Asn Ile Pro Trp Gly Lys Ala Gly Ala Asp Tyr Val 35 40 45Val Glu Ser Thr Gly Val Phe Thr Gly Lys Glu Ala Ala Ser Ala His 50 55 60Leu Lys Gly Gly Ala Lys Lys Val Ile Ile Ser Ala Pro Ser Gly Asp65 70 75 80Ala Pro Met Phe Val Val Gly Val Asn Leu Asp Ala Tyr Lys Pro Asp 85 90 95Met Thr Val Ile Ser Asn Ala Ser Cys Thr Thr Asn Cys Leu Ala Pro 100 105 110Leu Ala Lys Val Val Asn Asp Lys Tyr Gly Ile Ile Glu Gly Leu Met 115 120 125Thr Thr Val His Ser Ile Thr Ala Thr Gln Lys Thr Val Asp Gly Pro 130 135 140Ser His Lys Asp Trp Arg Gly Gly Arg Thr Ala Ser Gly Asn Ile Ile145 150 155 160Pro Ser Ser Thr Gly Ala Ala Lys Ala 1656926DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL206 69ccttgccggt gaagacaccg gtggac 267028DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL207 70gaagacctgg atgtgcttgc cgtcgatg 287124DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YL208 71gaccttgccc ttgaatcggc cgtg 24721848DNAYarrowia lipolytica 72gtgattgcct ctgaatactt tcaacaagtt acacccttcg cggcgacgat ctacagcccg 60atcacatgaa ctttggccga gggatgatgt aatcgagtat cgtggtagtt caatacgtac 120atgtacgatg ggtgcctcaa ttgtgcgata ctactacaag tgcagcacgc tcgtgcccgt 180accctacttt gtcggacgtc cctgctccct cgttcaacat ctcaagctca acaatcagtg 240ttggacactg caacgctagc agccggtacg tggctttagc cccatgctcc atgctccatg 300ctccatgctc tgggcctatg agctagccgt ttggcgcaca tagcatagtg acatgtcgat 360caagtcaaag tcgaggtgtg gaaaacgggc tgcgggtcgc caggggcctc acaagcgcct 420ccaccgcaga cgcccacctc gttagcgtcc attgcgatcg tctcggtaca tttggttaca 480ttttgcgaca ggttgaaatg aatcggccga cgctcggtag tcggaaagag ccgggaccgg 540ccggcgagca taaaccggac gcagtaggat gtcctgcacg ggtctttttg tggggtgtgg 600agaaaggggt gcttggagat ggaagccggt agaaccgggc tgcttgtgct tggagatgga 660agccggtaga accgggctgc ttggggggat ttggggccgc tgggctccaa agaggggtag 720gcatttcgtt ggggttacgt aattgcggca tttgggtcct gcgcgcatgt cccattggtc 780agaattagtc cggataggag acttatcagc caatcacagc gccggatcca cctgtaggtt 840gggttgggtg ggagcacccc tccacagagt agagtcaaac agcagcagca acatgatagt 900tgggggtgtg cgtgttaaag gaaaaaaaag aagcttgggt tatattcccg ctctatttag 960aggttgcggg atagacgccg acggagggca atggcgccat ggaaccttgc ggatatcgat 1020acgccgcggc ggactgcgtc cgaaccagct ccagcagcgt tttttccggg ccattgagcc 1080gactgcgacc ccgccaacgt gtcttggccc acgcactcat gtcatgttgg tgttgggagg 1140ccacttttta agtagcacaa ggcacctagc tcgcagcaag gtgtccgaac caaagaagcg 1200gctgcagtgg tgcaaacggg gcggaaacgg cgggaaaaag ccacgggggc acgaattgag 1260gcacgccctc gaatttgaga cgagtcacgg ccccattcgc ccgcgcaatg gctcgccaac 1320gcccggtctt ttgcaccaca tcaggttacc ccaagccaaa cctttgtgtt aaaaagctta 1380acatattata ccgaacgtag gtttgggcgg gcttgctccg tctgtccaag gcaacattta 1440tataagggtc tgcatcgccg gctcaattga atcttttttc ttcttctctt ctctatattc 1500attcttgaat taaacacaca tcaacatggc catcaaagtc ggtattaacg gattcgggcg 1560aatcggacga attgtgagta ccatagaagg tgatggaaac atgacccaac agaaacagat 1620gacaagtgtc atcgacccac cagagcccaa ttgagctcat actaacagtc gacaacctgt 1680cgaaccaatt gatgactccc cgacaatgta ctaacacagg tcctgcgaaa cgctctcaag 1740aaccctgagg tcgaggtcgt cgctgtgaac gaccccttca tcgacaccga gtacgctgct 1800tacatgttca agtacgactc cacccacggc cgattcaagg gcaaggtc 18487324DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P145 73agactccatg gaacggtctc tttc 247426DNAArtificial SequencePrimer P146 74cttagcggcc gcttactcaa tcattc 267535DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YPDAT5 75atgcgcggcc gcacaatgac acaacctgtg aatcg 357634DNAArtificial SequencePrimer YPDAT3 76gatcgcggcc gcctaattgc tgccgagatc aatc 347725DNAArtificial SequenceLinkAmp Primer 2 77gcctctgaat actttcaaca agtta 2578459PRTYarrowia lipolytica 78Met Leu Cys Cys Ala Ile Pro Leu Leu Trp Pro Phe Val Ile Ala Tyr1 5 10 15Val Val Tyr Ala Val Lys Asp Asp Ser Pro Ser Asn Gly Gly Val Val 20

25 30Lys Arg Tyr Ser Pro Ile Ser Arg Asn Phe Phe Ile Trp Lys Leu Phe 35 40 45Gly Arg Tyr Phe Pro Ile Thr Leu His Lys Thr Val Asp Leu Glu Pro 50 55 60Thr His Thr Tyr Tyr Pro Leu Asp Val Gln Glu Tyr His Leu Ile Ala65 70 75 80Glu Arg Tyr Trp Pro Gln Asn Lys Tyr Leu Arg Ala Ile Ile Ser Thr 85 90 95Ile Glu Tyr Phe Leu Pro Ala Phe Met Lys Arg Ser Leu Ser Ile Asn 100 105 110Glu Gln Glu Gln Pro Ala Glu Arg Asp Pro Leu Leu Ser Pro Val Ser 115 120 125Pro Ser Ser Pro Gly Ser Gln Pro Asp Lys Trp Ile Asn His Asp Ser 130 135 140Arg Tyr Ser Arg Gly Glu Ser Ser Gly Ser Asn Gly His Ala Ser Gly145 150 155 160Ser Glu Leu Asn Gly Asn Gly Asn Asn Gly Thr Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro 165 170 175Leu Ser Ser Ala Ser Ala Gly Ser Thr Ala Ser Asp Ser Thr Leu Leu 180 185 190Asn Gly Ser Leu Asn Ser Tyr Ala Asn Gln Ile Ile Gly Glu Asn Asp 195 200 205Pro Gln Leu Ser Pro Thr Lys Leu Lys Pro Thr Gly Arg Lys Tyr Ile 210 215 220Phe Gly Tyr His Pro His Gly Ile Ile Gly Met Gly Ala Phe Gly Gly225 230 235 240Ile Ala Thr Glu Gly Ala Gly Trp Ser Lys Leu Phe Pro Gly Ile Pro 245 250 255Val Ser Leu Met Thr Leu Thr Asn Asn Phe Arg Val Pro Leu Tyr Arg 260 265 270Glu Tyr Leu Met Ser Leu Gly Val Ala Ser Val Ser Lys Lys Ser Cys 275 280 285Lys Ala Leu Leu Lys Arg Asn Gln Ser Ile Cys Ile Val Val Gly Gly 290 295 300Ala Gln Glu Ser Leu Leu Ala Arg Pro Gly Val Met Asp Leu Val Leu305 310 315 320Leu Lys Arg Lys Gly Phe Val Arg Leu Gly Met Glu Val Gly Asn Val 325 330 335Ala Leu Val Pro Ile Met Ala Phe Gly Glu Asn Asp Leu Tyr Asp Gln 340 345 350Val Ser Asn Asp Lys Ser Ser Lys Leu Tyr Arg Phe Gln Gln Phe Val 355 360 365Lys Asn Phe Leu Gly Phe Thr Leu Pro Leu Met His Ala Arg Gly Val 370 375 380Phe Asn Tyr Asp Val Gly Leu Val Pro Tyr Arg Arg Pro Val Asn Ile385 390 395 400Val Val Gly Ser Pro Ile Asp Leu Pro Tyr Leu Pro His Pro Thr Asp 405 410 415Glu Glu Val Ser Glu Tyr His Asp Arg Tyr Ile Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg 420 425 430Ile Tyr Asn Glu His Lys Asp Glu Tyr Phe Ile Asp Trp Thr Glu Glu 435 440 445Gly Lys Gly Ala Pro Glu Phe Arg Met Ile Glu 450 45579355PRTYarrowia lipolytica 79Met Lys Arg Ser Leu Ser Ile Asn Glu Gln Glu Gln Pro Ala Glu Arg1 5 10 15Asp Pro Leu Leu Ser Pro Val Ser Pro Ser Ser Pro Gly Ser Gln Pro 20 25 30Asp Lys Trp Ile Asn His Asp Ser Arg Tyr Ser Arg Gly Glu Ser Ser 35 40 45Gly Ser Asn Gly His Ala Ser Gly Ser Glu Leu Asn Gly Asn Gly Asn 50 55 60Asn Gly Thr Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Leu Ser Ser Ala Ser Ala Gly Ser65 70 75 80Thr Ala Ser Asp Ser Thr Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Asn Ser Tyr Ala 85 90 95Asn Gln Ile Ile Gly Glu Asn Asp Pro Gln Leu Ser Pro Thr Lys Leu 100 105 110Lys Pro Thr Gly Arg Lys Tyr Ile Phe Gly Tyr His Pro His Gly Ile 115 120 125Ile Gly Met Gly Ala Phe Gly Gly Ile Ala Thr Glu Gly Ala Gly Trp 130 135 140Ser Lys Leu Phe Pro Gly Ile Pro Val Ser Leu Met Thr Leu Thr Asn145 150 155 160Asn Phe Arg Val Pro Leu Tyr Arg Glu Tyr Leu Met Ser Leu Gly Val 165 170 175Ala Ser Val Ser Lys Lys Ser Cys Lys Ala Leu Leu Lys Arg Asn Gln 180 185 190Ser Ile Cys Ile Val Val Gly Gly Ala Gln Glu Ser Leu Leu Ala Arg 195 200 205Pro Gly Val Met Asp Leu Val Leu Leu Lys Arg Lys Gly Phe Val Arg 210 215 220Leu Gly Met Glu Val Gly Asn Val Ala Leu Val Pro Ile Met Ala Phe225 230 235 240Gly Glu Asn Asp Leu Tyr Asp Gln Val Ser Asn Asp Lys Ser Ser Lys 245 250 255Leu Tyr Arg Phe Gln Gln Phe Val Lys Asn Phe Leu Gly Phe Thr Leu 260 265 270Pro Leu Met His Ala Arg Gly Val Phe Asn Tyr Asp Val Gly Leu Val 275 280 285Pro Tyr Arg Arg Pro Val Asn Ile Val Val Gly Ser Pro Ile Asp Leu 290 295 300Pro Tyr Leu Pro His Pro Thr Asp Glu Glu Val Ser Glu Tyr His Asp305 310 315 320Arg Tyr Ile Ala Glu Leu Gln Arg Ile Tyr Asn Glu His Lys Asp Glu 325 330 335Tyr Phe Ile Asp Trp Thr Glu Glu Gly Lys Gly Ala Pro Glu Phe Arg 340 345 350Met Ile Glu 3558027DNAArtificial SequencePrimer GPD-1 80tcgagtttat cattatcaat actcgcc 278129DNAArtificial SequencePrimer GPD-2 81tcgaaactaa gttcttggtg ttttaaaac 298231DNAArtificial SequencePrimer ADHT-1 82gatcctcgag taagcgaatt tcttatgatt t 318331DNAArtificial SequencePrimer ADHT-2 83gatcggtacc acaggtgttg tcctctgagg a 318481DNAArtificial SequencePrimer UP 161 84aaaggttctc taccaacgaa ttcggcgaca atcgagtaaa aaatggaaca cacaggggcg 60ctatcgcaca gaatcaaatt c 818581DNAArtificial SequencePrimer LP 162 85ttgaaataat acacggatgg atagtgagtc aatgtcggtc atttatgaag aggaggtcga 60ctacgtcgtt aaggccgttt c 81861068DNAYarrowia lipolytica 86atgaaacggt ctctttctat caacgagcag gagcagcctg ccgagcgaga tcctctcctg 60tctcccgttt ctcccagctc tccgggttct caacctgaca agtggattaa ccacgacagc 120agatatagcc gtggagaatc atctggctcc aacggccacg cctcgggctc cgaacttaac 180ggcaacggca acaatggcac cactaaccga cgacctttgt cgtccgcctc tgctggctcc 240actgcatctg attccacgct tcttaacggg tccctcaact cctacgccaa ccagatcatt 300ggcgaaaacg acccacagct gtcgcccaca aaactcaagc ccactggcag aaaatacatc 360ttcggctacc acccccacgg cattatcggc atgggagcct ttggtggaat tgccaccgag 420ggagctggat ggtccaagct ctttccgggc atccctgttt ctcttatgac tctcaccaac 480aacttccgag tgcctctcta cagagagtac ctcatgagtc tgggagtcgc ttctgtctcc 540aagaagtcct gcaaggccct cctcaagcga aaccagtcta tctgcattgt cgttggtgga 600gcacaggaaa gtcttctggc cagacccggt gtcatggacc tggtgctact caagcgaaag 660ggttttgttc gacttggtat ggaggtcgga aatgtcgccc ttgttcccat catggccttt 720ggtgagaacg acctctatga ccaggttagc aacgacaagt cgtccaagct gtaccgattc 780cagcagtttg tcaagaactt ccttggattc acccttcctt tgatgcatgc ccgaggcgtc 840ttcaactacg atgtcggtct tgtcccctac aggcgacccg tcaacattgt ggttggttcc 900cccattgact tgccttatct cccacacccc accgacgaag aagtgtccga ataccacgac 960cgatacatcg ccgagctgca gcgaatctac aacgagcaca aggatgaata tttcatcgat 1020tggaccgagg agggcaaagg agccccagag ttccgaatga ttgagtaa 1068

* * * * *

U.S. Current Class:	435/193; 435/134; 435/252.3; 435/254.11; 435/254.2; 435/254.22; 435/257.2; 536/23.2
U.S. Class at Publication:	435/193; 435/134; 435/252.3; 435/254.11; 435/254.2; 435/254.22; 435/257.2; 536/23.2
Intern'l Class:	C12N 9/10 20060101 C12N009/10; C12P 7/64 20060101 C12P007/64; C12N 1/21 20060101 C12N001/21; C12N 1/19 20060101 C12N001/19; C12N 1/12 20060101 C12N001/12; C12N 15/11 20060101 C12N015/11