The Function of Two β-Ketoacyl-CoA Synthases on the Fatty Acid Composition.

Rapeseed ( L.) is one of the four major oilseed crops in the world and is rich in fatty acids. Changes in the fatty acid composition affect the quality of rapeseed. Fatty acids play various roles in plants, but the functions of the genes involved in the fatty acid composition during plant development remain unclear. β-Ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) is a key enzyme involved in the elongation of fatty acids. Various types of fatty acid products are used to build lipid molecules, such as oils, suberin, wax, and membrane lipids. In , and belong to the KCS family, but their specific functions remain unclear. This study cloned and from L. and analyzed their functions. The gene structures of and were similar and they were localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In yeast, overexpression of increased the ratios of palmitoleic acid and oleic acid, while decreased the ratios of oleic acid. In Arabidopsis, overexpression of and lead to an increase in the proportion of linoleic acid and a decrease in the erucic acid. In summary, and altered the composition ratios of fatty acids. These findings lay the foundation for an understanding of the role of KCS in the fatty acids in rapeseed, potentially improving its health and nutritional qualities.