A CORN TISSUE-CULTURE CELL-LINE WITH ALTERED LIPID-METABOLISM

A variant corn callus line derived from callus which originated from etiolated leaves of Illinois High Oil corn (Zea mays L.) has been identified. The variant corn callus line had increased lipid content concomitant with increased acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity and altered biotin-containing protein patterns relative to the wild type callus. The variant callus line also had altered fatty acid composition concomitant with decreased oleate desaturase activity compared to the wild type callus. The altered variant corn callus line has been designated High Oil Callus (HOC).