Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Oilseed Crops

In oilseed crops, de novo synthesis of fatty acids occurs predominantly within plastids, where acetyl-CoA is converted to malonyl-CoA by acetyl-CoA carboxylase and subsequently elongated through the fatty acid synthase complex, yielding saturated acyl-ACP intermediates. Thioesterases release free fatty acids, which may undergo desaturation in the endoplasmic reticulum to produce unsaturated species such as oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. These fatty acids are assembled onto glycerol backbones via sequential activities of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases and diacylglycerol acyltransferases, generating triacylglycerols that accumulate within lipid droplets in seed tissues. Regulation of this pathway involves transcription factors, signalling networks and feedback by metabolic intermediates, with genetic variation in enzymes and transporters influencing both oil quantity and fatty acid composition. Advances in genomics and metabolic engineering have enabled targeted modification of enzymatic steps and regulatory nodes, yielding cultivars with enhanced oil content, tailored fatty acid profiles and improved stress resilience. These innovations underpin the global importance of oilseed crops for nutrition, industrial feedstocks and biofuels, while also presenting challenges in balancing agronomic performance with sustainable production.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated a triacylglycerol remodelling mechanism in certain oilseed species that enables the incorporation of unusual fatty acids after initial oil synthesis. This process involves a specific lipase that selectively removes conventional acyl chains from triacylglycerol, followed by the action of distinct diacylglycerol acyltransferases that reincorporate modified fatty acids into the glycerol backbone. The lipase and acyltransferases co-localise at the endoplasmic reticulum–lipid droplet interface, forming a metabolon that facilitates cycling between synthesis and partial degradation. By characterising the substrate specificities and interactions of these enzymes, researchers have demonstrated enhanced accumulation of hydroxylated fatty acids in engineered seed oils, offering a blueprint for expanding the repertoire of industrially relevant seed-derived lipids.

Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Oilseed Crops publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in fatty acid biosynthesis in oilseed crops across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase: Enzyme catalysing the ATP-dependent carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA, initiating fatty acid synthesis.

Fatty acid desaturase: Enzyme introducing double bonds into saturated acyl chains, producing unsaturated fatty acids.

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase: Enzyme transferring the first fatty acid to glycerol-3-phosphate in triacylglycerol assembly.

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase: Enzyme catalysing the final acylation step that forms triacylglycerol from diacylglycerol and acyl-CoA.

Lipid droplet: Intracellular organelle storing neutral lipids, primarily triacylglycerols, within a phospholipid monolayer.

References

1. Identification of triacylglycerol remodeling mechanism to synthesize unusual fatty acid containing oils. Nature Communications (2024).
2. Increasing oil content in Brassica oilseed species. Progress in Lipid Research (2024).
3. Plant Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Biosynthesis and Regulation. Frontiers in Plant Science (2020).
4. Boosting plant oil yields: the role of genetic engineering in industrial applications. Biofuel Research Journal (2024).
5. Biotechnology in Future Food Lipids: Opportunities and Challenges. Annual Review of Food Science and Technology (2023).