Changes in Fatty Acid Composition in Leaf Lipids of Canola Biotech Plants under Short-time Heat Stress

Abstract

In order to study the influence of expression of heterologous genes of different origin (cyp11A1 and desC) on canola thermotolerance improvement on leaf membrane level the fatty acid composition was analyzed under short-time heat test. Cyp11A1 gene encodes cytochrome P450SCC from bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria and was shown to affect the biosynthesis of steroid compounds. DesC gene encodes ∆9-acyl-lipid desaturase of cyanobacterium Synechococcus vulcanus. Decrease in palmitlinolenic acid content and index unsaturation as well as increase in total fatty acid and palmitic acid content were identified in cyp11A1 canola in comparison with wild-type plants in stressfull conditions. But control and desC plants demonstrated similar changes in saturated (16:0), trienoic (16:3 and 18:3) fatty acid quantity, total fatty acid content and index unsaturation. Heterologous desC gene expression did not influence fatty acid composition and did not give advantages for plant under heat. Integration of cyp11A1 gene in canola led to thermotolerance improvement on membrane level.

Keywords

• Brassica napus
• cyp11A1
• desC
• fatty acids
• heat stress