Wax esters (WE) are neutral lipids formed by condensation of fatty alcohol with fatty acyl‐CoA by wax synthases. They serve as carbon and energy reserves and are potential substrates for various commercial applications. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) an edible oil seed is a source of WE, however, the gene responsible for WE formation has hitherto remained unidentified. Using an in silico approach we identified, isolated putative Sunflower wax synthase (HaWS) gene and investigated it’s potential for WE production in yeast. Heterologous expression of HaWS in Saccharomyces cerevisiae H1246 exhibited 57 kDa protein which was confirmed by immunoblotting. Recombinant yeast expressing HaWS were fed with combinations of C16, C18 fatty alcohols with 16:0, 18:0 fatty acyl CoA’s as potential substrates to validate WE formation in vivo. The yeast cells accumulated C‐32 to C‐36 WE. Our study reveals identification, isolation, and heterologous functional expression of WS gene from Sunflower for the first time.

中文翻译：

---

向日葵蜡合酶的鉴定，分离和异源表达，用于合成量身定制的蜡酯

蜡酯（WE）是中性脂质，是通过蜡合酶将脂肪醇与脂肪酰基CoA缩合而形成的。它们充当碳和能量储备，并且是各种商业应用的潜在底物。向日葵（向日葵）是食用油的种子，是WE的来源，然而，至今尚未确定导致WE形成的基因。使用计算机方法，我们确定了分离的推定向日葵蜡合酶（HaWS）基因，并研究了其在酵母中生产WE的潜力。HaWS在酿酒酵母H1246中的异源表达显示57kDa蛋白，这通过免疫印迹证实。表达HaWS的重组酵母饲喂C16，C18脂肪醇与16：0、18：0脂肪酰基CoA的组合作为潜在的底物，以验证体内WE的形成。酵母细胞积累了C‐32至C‐36 WE。我们的研究首次揭示了向日葵中WS基因的鉴定，分离和异源功能表达。