The present invention relates to processes for production of Very Long
Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (VLC-PUFAs). The present invention also
relates to compositions (e.g., nutritional supplements and food products)
containing such VLC-PUFAs. In one embodiment, the present invention is
directed to methods for biosynthesis and production of the VLC-PUFAs
described herein (particularly C28-C38 PUFAs, also referred to herein as
supraenes or supraenoics) by the expression, in a production host cell,
of the full or partial sequence(s) of Elovl4 DNA/mRNA nucleic acids or
ELOVL4 protein sequences encoded thereby, from any species (prokaryotic
or eukaryotic) for use in the biosynthesis, production, purification and
utilization of VLC-PUFAs in particular by the elongation of C18-C26
saturated fatty acids and PUFAs. The composition of the invention
comprises, in various embodiments, a dietary supplement, a food product,
a pharmaceutical formulation, a humanized animal milk, an infant formula,
a cosmetic item and a biodiesel fuel for example. A pharmaceutical
formulation can include, but is not limited to: a drug for treatment of
neurodegenerative disease, a retinal disorder, age related maculopathy, a
fertility disorder, particularly regarding sperm or testes, or a skin
disorder.