Evolutionary view of acyl-CoA diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), a key enzyme in neutral lipid biosynthesis
2011

Evolution of DGAT Enzymes in Eukaryotes

Sample size: 151 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Turchetto-Zolet Andreia C, Maraschin Felipe S, de Morais Guilherme L, Cagliari Alexandro, Andrade Cláudia MB, Margis-Pinheiro Marcia, Margis Rogerio

Primary Institution: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Hypothesis

The study aims to examine the evolutionary relationship of the DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes across eukaryotic organisms to infer their origin.

Conclusion

DGAT1 and DGAT2 are present in most eukaryotic organisms and evolved separately with functional convergence.

Supporting Evidence

  • DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes are nearly ubiquitous in eukaryotes.
  • Phylogenetic analyses revealed evolutionary partitioning of the DGAT protein family into two major clades.
  • The analysis showed that MGAT2 and AWAT genes may have arisen from DGAT2 duplication events.

Takeaway

This study looks at two important enzymes that help plants store energy. It found that these enzymes have different origins but work together in many living things.

Methodology

The study performed a comparative analysis integrating phylogenetic, computational, and structural approaches to the DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes across various eukaryotic genomes.

Limitations

The study does not address the specific functional roles of DGAT1 and DGAT2 in all eukaryotic organisms.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2148-11-263

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