Rat Δ6 desaturase was introduced in “oleaginous” Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetically modified by the snf2 disruption, DGA1 overexpression, and LEU2 expression to improve stearidonic acid (18:4n-3 (Δ6, 9, 12, 15)) production. When this transformed yeast was cultured in the presence of 0.7 g/l α-linolenic acid for 7 d, 0.4 g of α-linolenic acid was accumulated and 44 mg of stearidonic acid was produced, mainly as a triacylglycerol in the 1 liter broth.
