Expression of meadowfoam Des5 and FAE1 genes in yeast and in transgenic soybean somatic embryos, and their roles in fatty acid modification

NRC publication: Ye

A desaturase-like-protein from white spruce is a delta9 desaturase

NRC publication: Ye

Palliser's promise: Brassica carinata, An emerging western Canadian crop for delivery of new bio-industrial oil feedstocks

The global demand for vegetable-based oils continues to rise, while the availability of highly productive arable farm land is becoming progressively limited. To meet the requirements of the future, it will be essential to develop new and improved temperate oilseed cultivars adapted to less-than-optimum acreage. An example is the brown soil zone in the semi-arid marginal land area of the south-western Canadian prairies known as Palliser's Triangle, which is not well-suited to the growth of crops like canola. Brassica carinata is a species that is well-adapted to growth in semi-arid regions and is highly drought-tolerant. It is being developed as a new crop platform dedicated to the production of bio-industrial oil feedstocks, most notably oils enriched in the very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) erucic and nervonic. VLCFA-enriched B. carinata oils have applications in the manufacture of bio-jet fuels, bio-diesel, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) surfactants, bio-plastics and many other products. The contributions of B. carinata oil products to both bio-based aviation fuels and to the more-efficient extraction of recalcitrant fossil fuel resources for maximum return at drill sites will help to create a more sustainable energy sector. B. carinata breeding and biotechnology efforts are being combined to establish this crop as a bio-industrial oil platform and this chapter highlights recent progress in this regard. \ua9 2013.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Function in Arabidopsis†

Mitochondria represent the powerhouse of cells through their synthesis of ATP. However, understanding the role of mitochondria in the growth and development of plants will rely on a much deeper appreciation of the complexity of this organelle. Arabidopsis research has provided clear identification of mitochondrial components, allowed wide-scale analysis of gene expression, and has aided reverse genetic manipulation to test the impact of mitochondrial component loss on plant function. Forward genetics in Arabidopsis has identified mitochondrial involvement in mutations with notable impacts on plant metabolism, growth and development. Here we consider the evidence for components involved in mitochondria biogenesis, metabolism and signalling to the nucleus