Almeria, Spain
June 25, 2009
Source:
Andalucía Innova
 Almeria-based
researchers, led by Federico García Maroto, have genetically
improved castor-oil plant so as to use it as a factory to
produce bio lubricants. This research project, part of a
national macro project, is developed through the sub-project
titled 'Desarrollo de nuevas variedades de ricino y sus
aceites', funded with 157,139 euros by the previous Spanish
Ministry of Education and Science and Innovation in
collaboration with the universities of Málaga and Seville, the
Institute of Fat, and the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture
of Córdoba.
So far, scientists of the University
of Almeria have identified and donated a series of genes
that are responsible of the biosynthesis of lipids that can be
used to obtain transgenic castor-oil plants with an acid profile
appropriate for the different requirements of bio lubricants.
More specifically, the idea is to obtain an oil with a higher
concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic and
palmitic), which are the compounds required to classify an oil
as a bio lubricant.
Another one of the objectives to be attained is the
identification and characterisation of specific regulatory
genetic sequences, called promoters, which drive the expression
of such genes to the seeds of castor-oil transgenic plants. A
promoter is a specific part of the gene responsible for the
creation or accumulation of a desired product in certain tissue
or organ.
 With
such modification, in the case of castor-oil plants, the idea is
for fatty oils to get accumulated in the seed without affecting
other parts of the plant, thus avoiding negative agronomic
effects. Almeria experts have already managed to isolate and
clone the desired promoters and their behaviour is currently
being checked - with good results- in tobacco plants. The use of
this species to validate the developed method is due to the fact
that they are a traditionally used model system.
The team of scientists is also working on the introduction of
genes into castor-oil plants with a technique that is effective
and reproducible for the production of generally applicable bio
lubricants. That is, they aim to make a great battery of bio
lubricants with different applications: automobile industry,
aero generators, industrial engines and motors, etc.
Moreover, the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture of Córdoba is
developing the agronomic aspect of castor-oil plants. The aim of
two-folded: on the one hand, to obtain varieties adapted to
current culture conditions in Spain, and on the other hand, that
they have a high performance level to obtain high quality oil
for lubricants, and therefore, a high content of oleic acid and
antioxidant compounds.
The general aim of the project carried out at a national level,
called Biovesin, is to create environmental friendly lubricants
using last generation vegetal oils and biodegradable additives
selected due to their optimal performance for each use, with a
good cost-performance relation. Such study is coordinated by Dr.
Rafael Garcés of the Institute of Fat, in Seville, which is part
of the Spanish National Research Council. |
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