Analysis of Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase Sequences from 70 Organisms
Author Information
Author(s): Cao Heping
Primary Institution: Commodity Utilization Research Unit, Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Hypothesis
The objective of this analysis was to identify conserved sequence motifs and amino acid residues for better understanding of the structure-function relationship of diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs).
Conclusion
This study has identified conserved sequence motifs and amino acid residues in all 117 DGATs and the two subfamilies, raising questions about how proteins with different sequences can perform the same biochemical reaction.
Supporting Evidence
- 117 DGAT sequences from 70 organisms were analyzed.
- Phylogenetic analysis separated these proteins into DGAT1 and DGAT2 subfamilies.
- DGAT1s are approximately 20 kDa larger than DGAT2s.
Takeaway
Scientists studied proteins that help make fats in plants and animals to understand how they work better, which could help in creating healthier foods and medicines.
Methodology
The study involved phylogenetic analysis and classification of DGAT sequences obtained from a database search, followed by multiple sequence alignment to identify conserved motifs.
Limitations
Limited numbers of DGAT amino acid sequences were analyzed previously, and the study may not cover all possible variations in DGAT sequences.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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