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Dalmia A, Daga P, Datey A, Chakravortty D, Tumaney AW. Biochemical characterization of lipid metabolic genes of Aurantiochytrium limacinum. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 259:129078. [PMID: 38176490 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is known to have numerous health benefits and immense dietary value. There is a pressing need to have a deeper understanding of DHA metabolism. Acyl CoA: Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase (DGAT) is an important enzyme of lipid anabolism and an essential piece of the puzzle. Aurantiochytrium limacinum, a primary producer of DHA, is a good model for studying DHA metabolism. Thus, we aimed to investigate important lipid metabolic genes from A. limacinum. We cloned four putative DGATs (DGAT2a, DGAT2b, DGAT2c, and DGAT2d) from A. limacinum and performed detailed in vivo and in vitro characterization. Functional characterization showed that not all the studied genes exhibited DGAT activity. DGAT2a and DGAT2d conferred DGAT activity whereas DGAT2b showed wax synthase (WS) activity and DGAT2c showed dual function of both WS and DGAT. Based on their identified function, DGAT2b and DGAT2c were renamed as AlWS and AlWS/DGAT respectively. DGAT2a was found to exhibit a preference for DHA as a substrate. DGAT2d was found to have robust activity and emerged as a promising candidate for genetic engineering aimed at increasing oil yield. The study enriches our knowledge of lipid biosynthetic enzymes in A. limacinum, which can be utilized to design suitable application strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayushi Dalmia
- Department of Lipid Science, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570020, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Palak Daga
- Department of Lipid Science, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570020, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Akshay Datey
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Dipshikha Chakravortty
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Ajay W Tumaney
- Department of Lipid Science, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570020, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
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2
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Vollheyde K, Kühnel K, Lambrecht F, Kawelke S, Herrfurth C, Feussner I. Crystal Structure of the Bifunctional Wax Synthase 1 from Acinetobacter baylyi Suggests a Conformational Change upon Substrate Binding and Formation of Additional Substrate Binding Sites. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c01712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Vollheyde
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Karin Kühnel
- Department of Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Felix Lambrecht
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Steffen Kawelke
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
- International Center for Advanced Studies of Energy Conversion (ICASEC), University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
- Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
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Chen G, Harwood JL, Lemieux MJ, Stone SJ, Weselake RJ. Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase: Properties, physiological roles, metabolic engineering and intentional control. Prog Lipid Res 2022; 88:101181. [PMID: 35820474 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2022.101181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT, EC 2.3.1.20) catalyzes the last reaction in the acyl-CoA-dependent biosynthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG). DGAT activity resides mainly in membrane-bound DGAT1 and DGAT2 in eukaryotes and bifunctional wax ester synthase-diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WSD) in bacteria, which are all membrane-bound proteins but exhibit no sequence homology to each other. Recent studies also identified other DGAT enzymes such as the soluble DGAT3 and diacylglycerol acetyltransferase (EaDAcT), as well as enzymes with DGAT activities including defective in cuticular ridges (DCR) and steryl and phytyl ester synthases (PESs). This review comprehensively discusses research advances on DGATs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes with a focus on their biochemical properties, physiological roles, and biotechnological and therapeutic applications. The review begins with a discussion of DGAT assay methods, followed by a systematic discussion of TAG biosynthesis and the properties and physiological role of DGATs. Thereafter, the review discusses the three-dimensional structure and insights into mechanism of action of human DGAT1, and the modeled DGAT1 from Brassica napus. The review then examines metabolic engineering strategies involving manipulation of DGAT, followed by a discussion of its therapeutic applications. DGAT in relation to improvement of livestock traits is also discussed along with DGATs in various other eukaryotic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 2P5, Canada.
| | - John L Harwood
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - M Joanne Lemieux
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Membrane Protein Disease Research Group, Edmonton T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Scot J Stone
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada.
| | - Randall J Weselake
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 2P5, Canada
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Domergue F, Miklaszewska M. The production of wax esters in transgenic plants:
towards a sustainable source of bio-lubricants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:2817-2834. [PMID: 35560197 PMCID: PMC9113324 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Wax esters are high-value compounds used as feedstocks for the production of lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Currently, they are produced mostly from fossil reserves using chemical synthesis, but this cannot meet increasing demand and has a negative environmental impact. Natural wax esters are also obtained from Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) but comparably in very low amounts and expensively. Therefore, metabolic engineering of plants, especially of the seed storage lipid metabolism of oil crops, represents an attractive strategy for renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly production of wax esters tailored to industrial applications. Utilization of wax ester-synthesizing enzymes with defined specificities and modulation of the acyl-CoA pools by various genetic engineering approaches can lead to obtaining wax esters with desired compositions and properties. However, obtaining high amounts of wax esters is still challenging due to their negative impact on seed germination and yield. In this review, we describe recent progress in establishing non-food-plant platforms for wax ester production and discuss their advantages and limitations as well as future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Domergue
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, LBM, UMR 5200, F-33140 Villenave d’Ornon, France
| | - Magdalena Miklaszewska
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Division of Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
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Vollheyde K, Hornung E, Herrfurth C, Ischebeck T, Feussner I. Plastidial wax ester biosynthesis as a tool to synthesize shorter and more saturated wax esters. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:238. [PMID: 34911577 PMCID: PMC8675476 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-02062-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wax esters (WE) are neutral lipids that consist of a fatty alcohol esterified to a fatty acid. WE are valuable feedstocks in industry for producing lubricants, coatings, and cosmetics. They can be produced chemically from fossil fuel or plant-derived triacylglycerol. As fossil fuel resources are finite, the synthesis of WE in transgenic plants may serve as an alternative source. As chain length and desaturation of the alcohol and acyl moieties determine the physicochemical properties of WE and their field of application, tightly controlled and tailor-made WE synthesis in plants would be a sustainable, beneficial, and valuable commodity. Here, we report the expression of ten combinations of WE producing transgenes in Arabidopsis thaliana. In order to study their suitability for WE production in planta, we analyzed WE amount and composition in the transgenic plants. RESULTS The transgenes consisted of different combinations of a FATTY ACYL-COA/ACP REDUCTASE (FAR) and two WAX SYNTHASES/ACYL-COA:DIACYLGLYCEROL O-ACYLTRANSFERASES (WSD), namely WSD2 and WSD5 from the bacterium Marinobacter aquaeoleoi. We generated constructs with and without plastidial transit peptides to access distinct alcohol and acyl substrate pools within A. thaliana cells. We observed WE formation with plastid and cytosol-localized FAR and WSD in seeds. A comparative WE analysis revealed the production of shorter and more saturated WE by plastid-localized WE biosynthesis compared to cytosolic WE synthesis. CONCLUSIONS A shift of WE formation into seed plastids is a suitable approach for tailor-made WE production and can be used to synthesize WE that are mainly derived from mid- and long-chain saturated and monounsaturated substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Vollheyde
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ellen Hornung
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Till Ischebeck
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, International Center for Advanced Studies of Energy Conversion (ICASEC) and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Goettingen, Germany.
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany.
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, International Center for Advanced Studies of Energy Conversion (ICASEC) and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, 37077, Goettingen, Germany.
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Murphy EJ, Chen GG. Randy Weselake: Celebrating a Gentleman Scholar Contributing across a Wide Spectrum of Lipid Biochemistry. Lipids 2020; 55:415-417. [PMID: 33078887 DOI: 10.1002/lipd.12284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Murphy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58201, USA
| | - Guanqun Gavin Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada
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