Castor-oil Plants Genetically Altered To Produce New Bio-lubricants

So far, scientists of the University of Almeria have identified and provided 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.

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.