Abstract

The substitution of the synthetic bases of fossil origin used in lubricant industry by environment- respecting compounds has become a central question. In such respects, some of us have recently shown that one of the many of unusual fatty acids known to occur in nature, namely the branched-chain fatty acids, BcFAs, could avantageously replace these synthetic bases. In contrast with other vegetable oils used as lubricant bases, BcFA-containing oil has both excellent oxidative resistance and thermal stability, thereby making it a potent substitute for high-temperature applications such as motor lubricants. The project REFLAX (for Rational Engineering of FLAX) is a feasibility programme and consists of a rational strategy for the engineering of oilseeds - and more specifically flax - towards the production of BcFAs.

Objectives

The project REFLAX aims at the integration of molecular, cellular and physiological investigations to provide a rational strategy for the engineering of oilseeds - and more specifically flax - towards the production of BcFAs. It is a feasibility programme, which will provide new insights into the understanding and manipulation of lipid metabolism in oilseeds to produce a new type of unusual fatty acid. The capability of genetically engineered oilseeds to produce the BcFAs will be assessed with rapeseed and the final transformation will concern flax, an oilseed with limited risks of gene dissemination.

Description of the work

REFLAX combines a basic investigation of the molecular, cellular, and physiological basis for the induction of BcFA synthesis in oilseeds (rapeseed and flax) with an innovative approach for modulating the spectrum of fatty acids. The work is divided into 6 workpackages.

WP1 Metabolic integration: Will analyse the metabolic basis of BcFA synthesis in two oilseeds, rapeseed and flax.

WP2 Foreign proteins: Will assess the structure and functionality of the gene products to be inserted to induce BcFA synthesis, thereby allowing further improvements of the catalytic properties.

WP3 Proofs-of-concept: Rapeseed will be transformed with various genes that may induce BcFA synthesis. This approach will allow us to determine the gene(s) required for BcFA synthesis in the subsequent transformation of flax.

WP4 Lipid trafficking: Will determine in which way and to which extent the synthesis of BcFAs will modify the lipid trafficking in oilseed embryos. Transport processes through membranes and deposition of BcFA into oil bodies will be considered as well as breakdown of fatty acids into ß-oxidation, as this will result in futile cycling of carbon in the plant cell.

WP5 Flax as producer: After evaluation of the functionality of different constructs in rapeseed (WPs 3 & 4), flax will be transformed with the optimal gene(s). Transgenic flax will be physiologically and metabolically characterised.

WP6 Project management: This WP is aimed at the management and progress-evaluation of the REFLAX project.

Deliverables

The final achievement and proof-of-success of REFLAX are the flax and rapeseed transformants synthesizing BcFAs in seeds. As a feasibility programme, it is not the objective of REFAX to deliver high BcFA- producing oilseeds, but the basic investigations performed in the programme will give valuable data for further yield improvements, leading to the creation of new crops producing new and fully biodegradable lubricants. The end of the REFLAX project will open the way to a demonstration programme with a major European petroleum company.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Jean-Charles PORTAIS / Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire / FRANCE

Participant

• Jeroen WILMER / BIOGEMMA FRANCE
• Bart DEVREESE / Ghent University Laboratory of Protein Biochemistry & Engineering / BELGIUM
• Leszek RYCHLEWSKI / International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology Bioinformatics unit / POLAND
• Steve RAWSTHORNE / John Innes Centre Brassica and Oilseeds Research Department / UNITED KINGDOM
• Eric GONTIER / UMR ENSAIA-INRA-INPL Agronomie et Environnement FRANCE
• Eric LAINÉ / Université de Picardie Jules Verne Différenciation cellulaire et Modulation / FRANCE