The present invention relates to a method for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in an
organism by introducing into the
organism nucleic acids encoding polypeptides with Δ5-
elongase activity. Advantageously, these
nucleic acid sequences can be expressed in the
organism if they are compatible with further
nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides of
fatty acid biosynthesis or
lipid metabolism. Particularly advantageous are
nucleic acid sequences encoding a Δ6-desaturase, Δ5-desaturase, Δ4-desaturase and / or Δ6-
elongase activity. These desaturases and elongases are advantageously derived from Thalassiosira,
Euglena or Ostreococcus. The invention further relates to a method for the production of oils and / or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.In a preferred embodiment, the present invention further relates to a method for producing unsaturated ω3 fatty acids and a method for producing triglycerides with an elevated content of unsaturated fatty acids, especially ω3 fatty acids with more than three double bonds.The invention relates to the creation of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic
plant or a transgenic
microorganism, with an elevated content of unsaturated ω3 fatty acids, oils or lipids with ω3 double bonds as a result of expression of elongases and desaturases used in the method according to the invention, advantageously together with ω3 desaturases, for example an ω3 desaturase from fungi of the family Pythiaceae such as the
genus Phytophthora, for example the
genus and species
Phytophthora infestans or an ω3 desaturase from
algae such as the family Prasinophyceae, for example the
genus Ostreococcus, specifically the genus and species Ostreococcus tauri or diatoms such as the genus Thalassiosira, specifically the genus and species Thalassiosira pseudonana.The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequences of the invention, vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences and / or nucleic acid constructs and transgenic organisms comprising the above-mentioned nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and / or vectors. A further part of the invention relates to oils, lipids and / or fatty acids produced by the method of the invention and their use. The invention further relates to unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides with an elevated content of unsaturated fatty acids and their use.