Proteins involved in lipid metabolism (Dgat2)

• Overview (pg.1) (pg.2)
• FcsA
• Plin (pg.1)(pg.2)
• Smt1, Ldp, Net4
• Dgat1
• Dgat2
• FcsB (pg.1)(pg.2)

Top: The addition of the third fatty acid to the amphiphilic diacylglycerol molecule is the step that produces storage fat (TAG) with only hydrophobic properties. This reaction is carried out by acyltransferases abbreviated DGAT. DGAT2 (blue dots) is an enzyme that only associates with lipid droplets whereas DGAT1 is only active on the endoplasmic reticulum.

Right: A cell showing GFP-DGAT2 (green) surrounding the TAG core of lipid droplets stained by a fluorescent dye called LD540 (red).

Function: In a mutant lacking DGAT1, overexpressed DGAT2 can fully compensate the defect in TAG synthesis. DGAT2, however, is unable to produce MDG.

References:

• Du, X., Herrfurth, C., Gottlieb, T. Kawelke, S., Feussner, K., Rühling, H., Feussner, I., Maniak, M.: The essential function of Dictyostelium Dgat1 in triglyceride production, but not in ether lipid synthesis, can be substituted by Dgat2. Eukaryotic Cell, 13,  517-526, 2014