| abstract |
The present invention relates to processes for production of Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (VLC-PUFAs). The present invention also relates to compositions (e.g., nutritional supplements and food products) containing such VLC-PUFAs. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to methods for biosynthesis and production of the VLC-PUFAs described herein (particularly C28-C38 PUFAs, also referred to herein as supraenes or supraenoics) by the expression, in a production host cell, of the full or partial sequence(s) of Elovl4 DNA/mRNA nucleic acids or ELOVL4 protein sequences encoded thereby, from any species (prokaryotic or eukaryotic) for use in the biosynthesis, production, purification and utilization of VLC-PUFAs in particular by the elongation of C18-C26 saturated fatty acids and PUFAs. The composition of the invention comprises, in various embodiments, a dietary supplement, a food product, a pharmaceutical formulation, a humanized animal milk, an infant formula, a cosmetic item and a biodiesel fuel for example. A pharmaceutical formulation can include, but is not limited to: a drug for treatment of neurodegenerative disease, a retinal disorder, age related maculopathy, a fertility disorder, particularly regarding sperm or testes, or a skin disorder. |