Transgenic plants as a sustainable, terrestrial source of fish oils

Abstract

1An alternative, sustainable source of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids is widely recognized as desirable, helping to reduce pressure on current sources (wild capture fisheries) and providing a de novo source of these health beneficial fatty acids. This review will consider the efforts and progress to develop transgenic plants as terrestrial sources of omega-3 fish oils, focusing on recent developments and the possible explanations for advances in the field. We also consider the utility of such a source for use in aquaculture, since this industry is the major consumer of oceanic supplies of omega-3 fish oils. Given the importance of the aquaculture industry in meeting global requirements for healthy foodstuffs, an alternative source of omega-3 fish oils represents a potentially significant breakthrough for this production system. Transgenic Camelina seeds engineered to accumulate the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, represent a sustainable alternative to fish oils.

Keywords: Aquaculture; GM plants; Omega‐3; Plant biotechnology.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the aerobic pathways for the biosynthesis of omega‐3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The relevant desaturase and elongase activities, and their associated substrates, are indictated, as is the variant form (the alternative pathway) observed in some limited examples.

Figure 2

Comparison of fatty acid composition in different sources of omega‐3 LC‐PUFAs. The major fatty acids present in either fish oil, vegetable oil, GM vegetable oil, or algal oil are presented. Note that non‐GM vegetable oil lacks any EPA and DHA.