Introduction

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) is a membrane protein that synthesizes triacylglycerides from its two substrates diacylglycerol (DAG) and fatty acyl-CoA for dietary fat absorption and fat storage. DGAT can be found expressed in the small intestine’s epithelial cells, in the liver where it synthesizes fat for storage, and in the female mammary glands where it produces fat for milk ^[1]. DGAT is a member of the membrane-bound O- acyltransferases (MBOAT) family ^[2]. All of the enzymes within this family are transmembrane enzymes that acylate lipids or proteins. Additionally, MBOAT enzymes have a conserved MBOAT core, a channel-like region that acts as the enzyme’s active site. Another feature of note within this MBOAT core is the conserved catalytic Histidine. DGAT is a dimer that has two identical subunits. Each of the individual subunits contains an MBOAT core that acts as its active site. Each subunit also contains nine transmembrane alpha-helices (TM), 2 intracellular loops (IL), and one ER luminal loop (EL). TM2-9, IL1, and IL2 form the structure of the MBOAT core active site.

Function

DGAT synthesizes triacylglycerides from diacylglycerol (DAG) and fatty acyl-CoA. The catalytic mechanism for triacylglyceride synthesis by DGAT is shown in Figure 1.

Structure

Dimer Interface

Active Site

The active site of DGAT serves its catalytic function by placing the His415 residue in close proximity to the acyl-CoA in order to cleave its ester bond and thus bind the fatty acid to the diacylglycerol. The conserved His415 is able to act catalytically due to a charge relay system, where the neighboring Glu416, due to its negative charge pulls electrons on histidine at the N1 position, making the N3 position more nucleophilic. This nitrogen will then deprotonate DAG so it can begin its attack on Acyl-CoA through acyl substitution. The catalytic mechanism for DGAT is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: DGAT Mechanism

DAG Binding

DAG enters the active site through the lateral gate located in the lipid bilayer of the membrane. This lateral gate is a bent and hydrophobic channel that allows for hydrophobic linear or curvilinear molecules to enter. The lateral gate channel is designed to allow for the entrance of DAG and the exit of a triacylglyceride. This channel is also lined with the hydrophobic residues Phe342, Leu261, Val381, and Asn378. Once within the channel, DAG is positioned in close proximity to the bound Acyl-CoA and the catalytic His415.

Acyl-CoA Binding

enters DGAT’s active site through a channel on the cytosolic side of the membrane. In order for the channel to accommodate the fatty acid tail of the Acyl-CoA, His415 must first break its interactions with Met434. This allows for the His415 to swing down and have hydrogen bond interactions with Gln465, thus widening the channel enough for the fatty acid tail to move into the active site. Once within the active site, residues Asn378, Gln437, Met434, His415, and Gln465 directly interact with and stabilize the fatty acid tail within the cytosolic channel of the active site.

Disease

Relevance

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