DIACYLGLYCEROL ACYL TRANSFERASE PROTEINS

摘要

By this invention, acyltransferase proteins are provided capable of catalyzing the production of triglycerides from 1,2-diacylglycerol and an acyl-CoA. The invention comprises a partially purified diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DAGAT), wherein said protein is active in the formation of triacylglycerol from fatty acyl-CoA and diacylglycerol substrates. Of special interest is a Mortierella ramanniana DAGAT having a molecular mass of approximately 40kD. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from DAGAT proteins and the use of such sequences to provide transgenic host cells with modified triacylglycerol levels.