Transcriptional regulation of fatty acid production in higher plants: Molecular bases and biotechnological outcomes

Acyl lipids are essential constituents found in every plant cell, where they fulfill diverse biological functions. Requirements for acyl chains depend on the cell type considered and vary greatly, implying a tight regulation of de novo fatty acid production in the plastids so that supply fits demand. Data generated by extensive transcriptome analyses carried out in various plant species and the characterization of the WRINKLED1 transcription factor in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana have first established the importance of transcriptional regulation for modulating the rate of fatty acid production. The fatty acid biosynthetic pathway is indeed subjected to a system of global transcriptional control that coordinates the expression of most genes encoding enzymes of the pathway. Although much remains to be elucidated, the framework of the regulatory system controlling fatty acid biosynthesis in plants is coming into focus. Practical applications: Fatty acids constitute the most abundant form of reduced carbon chains available from nature and plant oils represent the main renewable resource of these fatty acids. Plant oils therefore represent a highly valuable agricultural commodity, the demand for which is increasing rapidly. They are primarily used for food and feed, but they are increasingly being utilized as renewable sources of industrial feedstock and fuel. Knowledge regarding the regulation of fatty production is extensively exploited in the frame of genetic engineering for oilseed crop improvement.