Characterization of oilseed lipids from "DHA-producing Camelina sativa": a new transformed land plant containing long-chain omega-3 oils

Nutrients. 2014 Feb 21;6(2):776-89. doi: 10.3390/nu6020776.

Abstract

New and sustainable sources of long-chain (LC, ≥C₂₀) omega-3 oils containing DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6ω3) are required to meet increasing demands. The lipid content of the oilseed of a novel transgenic, DHA-producing land plant, Camelina sativa, containing microalgal genes able to produce LC omega-3 oils, contained 36% lipid by weight with triacylglycerols (TAG) as the major lipid class in hexane extracts (96% of total lipid). Subsequent chloroform-methanol (CM) extraction recovered further lipid (~50% polar lipid, comprising glycolipids and phospholipids) and residual TAG. The main phospholipid species were phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. The % DHA was: 6.8% (of total fatty acids) in the TAG-rich hexane extract and 4.2% in the polar lipid-rich CM extract. The relative level of ALA (α-linolenic acid, 18:3ω3) in DHA-camelina seed was higher than the control. Major sterols in both DHA- and control camelina seeds were: sitosterol, campesterol, cholesterol, brassicasterol and isofucosterol. C₁₆-C₂₂ fatty alcohols, including iso-branched and odd-chain alcohols were present, including high levels of iso-17:0, 17:0 and 19:0. Other alcohols present were: 16:0, iso-18:0, 18:0 and 18:1 and the proportions varied between the hexane and CM extracts. These iso-branched odd-chain fatty alcohols, to our knowledge, have not been previously reported. These components may be derived from wax esters, or free fatty alcohols.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brassicaceae / chemistry*
  • Cholestadienols / analysis
  • Cholesterol / analogs & derivatives
  • Cholesterol / analysis
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / analysis*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Phospholipids / analysis
  • Phytosterols / analysis
  • Plant Oils / chemistry*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / chemistry
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Sitosterols / analysis
  • Stigmasterol / analogs & derivatives
  • Stigmasterol / analysis
  • Triglycerides / analysis

Substances

  • Cholestadienols
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Phospholipids
  • Phytosterols
  • Plant Oils
  • Sitosterols
  • Triglycerides
  • brassicasterol
  • fucosterol
  • campesterol
  • gamma-sitosterol
  • Cholesterol
  • Stigmasterol