Conclusion

Using a high-performance heterologous expression system in the yeast S. cerevisiae, we were able to increase lipid storage capacity by modifying the lipid body. The lipid body is the organelle that stores cellular lipids. These neutral lipids, sterol esters and triglycerides, are key molecules for green chemistry. Our knowledge of the lipid body of seeds led us to focus on the proteins that structure this organelle, the oleosins. These proteins, which stabilize and direct the storage of lipids in seeds, seemed to be good candidates for genetic engineering in yeast. Indeed, expression in S. cerevisiae of one of these proteins, AtClo1 chaleosin, resulted in an increase in the number and size of lipid bodies formed. This modification is accompanied by increased storage of reserve lipids, thus increasing the cells' richness in unsaturated fatty acids. These results are encouraging in the context...