Cloning and functional characterization of a mouse intestinal acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase,MGAT2

Acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol transferase (MGAT) plays a predominant role in dietary fat absorption in the small intestine, where it catalyzes the first step of triacylglycerol resynthesis in enterocytes for chylomicron formation and secretion. Although the mouse small intestine exhibits the highest MGAT enzyme activity among all of the tissues studied, the gene encoding the enzyme has not been identified so far. In the present studies, we report the identification and characterization of a mouse intestinal MGAT, MGAT2. Transient expression of MGAT2 in AV-12, COS-7, and Caco-2 cells led to a more than 70-, 30-, and 35-fold increase in the synthesis of diacylglycerol, respectively. MGAT2 expressed in mammalian cells can catalyze the acylation of rac-1-, sn-2-, and sn-3-monoacylglycerols, and the enzyme prefers monoacylglycerols containing unsaturated fatty acyls as substrates. MGAT2 also demonstrates weak DGAT activity, which can be distinguished from its MGAT activity by detergent treatment that abolishes DGAT but not MGAT activity. We also analyzed the biochemical features of MGAT2 and demonstrated homogenate protein-, time-, and substrate concentration-dependent MGAT enzyme activity in transiently transfected COS-7 cells. Northern blot analysis indicates that the mouse MGAT2 is most abundantly expressed in the small intestine, suggesting that MGAT2 may play an important role in dietary fat absorption.     

A predominant role of acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 in dietary fat absorption implicated by tissue distribution, subcellular localization, and up-regulation by high fat diet

Acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 (MGAT2) catalyzes the synthesis of diacylglycerol and differs from the MGAT1 and MGAT3 in tissue distribution at the mRNA level. In addition to the small intestine, MGAT2 mRNA is also expressed at high levels in human liver, the lower gastrointestinal tract, and the mouse kidney, but the physiological significance of such expression has not yet been studied. Using an affinity-purified antibody, the present study investigated the expression of murine MGAT2 protein along the intestinal tract, determined its subcellular localization, and studied its regulation by diet and in db/db mouse. Results demonstrate a high level of MGAT2 expression in the small intestine in a proximal-to-distal gradient that correlated well with both MGAT enzyme activity and fat absorption pattern. In contrast, MGAT2 protein was not detectable in other sections of the digestive tract, including stomach, cecum, colon, and rectum, or other mouse tissues such as kidney, liver, and adipocytes. Immunohistological studies provided direct evidence that the enzyme is expressed not only in the villi, but also in the crypt regions of the small intestine, which suggests that MGAT2 expression occurs prior to the maturation of enterocytes. MGAT2 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in both MGAT2-transfected COS-7 and Caco-2 cells, indicating that the ER is the primary site for dietary fat re-synthesis. MGAT2 expression appeared not to be affected by diabetes in the db/db mouse, however, the total intestinal MGAT activity was significantly enhanced. Finally, an up-regulation of both MGAT2 protein expression and MGAT activity was observed in mice fed a high fat diet, implicating a role of MGAT2 in diet-induced obesity. Taken together, our data suggest a predominant role of MGAT2 in dietary fat absorption.     

Intestine-specific Deletion of Acyl-CoA:Monoacylglycerol Acyltransferase (MGAT) 2 Protects Mice from Diet-induced Obesity and Glucose Intolerance

The absorption of dietary fat involves the re-esterification of digested triacylglycerol in the enterocytes, a process catalyzed by acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT) 2. Mice without a functional gene encoding MGAT2 (Mogat2^−/−) are protected from diet-induced obesity. Surprisingly, these mice absorb normal amounts of dietary fat but increase their energy expenditure. MGAT2 is expressed in tissues besides intestine, including adipose tissue in both mice and humans. To test the hypothesis that intestinal MGAT2 regulates systemic energy balance, we generated and characterized mice deficient in MGAT2 specifically in the small intestine (Mogat2^IKO). We found that, like Mogat2^−/− mice, Mogat2^IKO mice also showed a delay in fat absorption, a decrease in food intake, and a propensity to use fatty acids as fuel when first exposed to a high fat diet. Mogat2^IKO mice increased energy expenditure although to a lesser degree than Mogat2^−/− mice and were protected against diet-induced weight gain and associated comorbidities, including hepatic steatosis, hypercholesterolemia, and glucose intolerance. These findings illustrate that intestinal lipid metabolism plays a crucial role in the regulation of systemic energy balance and may be a feasible intervention target. In addition, they suggest that MGAT activity in extraintestinal tissues may also modulate energy metabolism.     

Identification of acyl coenzyme A:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase 3, an intestinal specific enzyme implicated in dietary fat absorption

Acyl coenzyme A:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT) catalyzes the synthesis of diacylglycerol using 2-monoacylglycerol and fatty acyl coenzyme A. This enzymatic reaction is believed to be an essential and rate-limiting step for the absorption of fat in the small intestine. Although the first MGAT-encoding cDNA, designated MGAT1, has been recently isolated, it is not expressed in the small intestine and hence cannot account for the high intestinal MGAT enzyme activity that is important for the physiology of fat absorption. In the current study, we report the identification of a novel MGAT, designated MGAT3, and present evidence that it fulfills the criteria to be the elusive intestinal MGAT. MGAT3 encodes a approximately 36-kDa transmembrane protein that is highly homologous to MGAT1 and -2. In humans, expression of MGAT3 is restricted to gastrointestinal tract with the highest level found in the ileum. At the cellular level, recombinant MGAT3 is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. Recombinant MGAT3 enzyme activity produced in insect Sf9 cells selectively acylates 2-monoacylglycerol with higher efficiency than other stereoisomers. The molecular identification of MGAT3 will facilitate the evaluation of using intestinal MGAT as a potential point of intervention for antiobesity therapies.     

Catalytic properties of MGAT3, a putative triacylgycerol synthase

Acyl-coenzyme A:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase 3 (MGAT3) is a member of the MGAT family of enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of diacylglycerol (DAG) from monoacylglycerol (MAG), a committed step in dietary fat absorption. Although named after the initial identification of its MGAT activity, MGAT3 shares higher sequence homology with acyl-coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) than with other MGAT enzymes, suggesting that MGAT3 may also possess significant DGAT activity. This study compared the catalytic properties of MGAT3 with those of MGAT1 and MGAT2 enzymes using both MAG and DAG as substrates. Our results showed that in addition to the expected MGAT activity, the recombinant MGAT3 enzyme expressed in Sf-9 insect cells displayed a strong DGAT activity relative to that of MGAT1 and MGAT2 enzymes in the order MGAT3 > MGAT1 > MGAT2. In contrast, none of the three MGAT enzymes recognized biotinylated acyl-CoA or MAG as a substrate. Although MGAT3 possesses full DGAT activity, it differs from DGAT1 in catalytic properties and subcellular localization. The MGAT3 activity was sensitive to inhibition by the presence of 1% CHAPS, whereas DGAT1 activity was stimulated by the detergent. Consistent with high sequence homology with DGAT2, the MGAT3 enzyme demonstrated a similar subcellular distribution pattern to that of DGAT2, but not DGAT1, when expressed in COS-7 cells. Our data suggest that MGAT3 functions as a novel triacylglycerol (TAG) synthase that catalyzes efficiently the two consecutive acylation steps in TAG synthesis.     

Properties of the mouse intestinal acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase,MGAT2

Acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT) plays an important role in dietary fat absorption by catalyzing a rate-limiting step in the re-synthesis of diacylglycerols in enterocytes. The present study reports further characterization of MGAT2, a newly identified intestinal MGAT (Cao, J., Lockwood, J., Burn, P., and Shi, Y. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 13860-13866) for its substrate specificity, requirement for lipid cofactors, optimum pH and Mg2+, and other intrinsic properties. MGAT2 enzyme expressed in COS-7 cells displayed a broad range of substrate specificity toward fatty acyl-CoA derivatives and monoacylglycerols, among which the highest activities were observed with oleoyl-CoA and rac-1-monolauroylglycerol, respectively. MGAT2 appeared to acylate monoacylglycerols containing unsaturated fatty acyls in preference to saturated ones. Lipid cofactors that play roles in signal transduction were shown to modulate MGAT2 activities. In contrast to oleic acid and sphingosine that exhibited inhibitory effects, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidic acid stimulated MGAT2 activities. Using recombinant murine MGAT2 expressed in Escherichia coli, we demonstrated conclusively that MGAT2 also possessed an intrinsic acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) activity, which could provide an alternative pathway for triacylglycerol synthesis in the absence of DGAT. In contrast to the inhibitory effect on MGAT2 activities, nonionic and zwitterionic detergents led to a striking activation of DGAT activity of the human DGAT1 expressed in mammalian cells, which further distinguished the behaviors of the two enzymes. The elucidation of properties of MGAT2 will facilitate future development of compounds that inhibit dietary fat absorption as a means to treat obesity.     

DGAT1 is not essential for intestinal triacylglycerol absorption or chylomicron synthesis

Dietary triacylglycerols are a major source of energy for animals. The absorption of dietary triacylglycerols involves their hydrolysis to free fatty acids and monoacylglycerols in the intestinal lumen, the uptake of these products into enterocytes, the resynthesis of triacylgylcerols, and the incorporation of newly synthesized triacylglycerols into nascent chylomicrons for secretion. In enterocytes, the final step in triacylglycerol synthesis is believed to be catalyzed primarily through the actions of acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) enzymes. In this study, we analyzed intestinal triacylglycerol absorption and chylomicron synthesis and secretion in DGAT1-deficient (Dgat1(-/-)) mice. Surprisingly, DGAT1 was not essential for quantitative dietary triacylglycerol absorption, even in mice fed a high fat diet, or for the synthesis of chylomicrons. However, Dgat1(-/-) mice had reduced postabsorptive chylomicronemia (1 h after a high fat challenge) and accumulated neutral-lipid droplets in the cytoplasm of enterocytes when chronically fed a high fat diet. These results suggest a reduced rate of triacylglycerol absorption in Dgat1(-/-) mice. Analysis of intestine from Dgat1(-/-) mice revealed activity for two other enzymes, DGAT2 and diacylglycerol transacylase, that catalyze triacylglycerol synthesis and apparently help to compensate for the absence of DGAT1. Our findings indicate that multiple mechanisms for triacylglycerol synthesis in the intestine facilitate triacylglycerol absorption.     

Enzyme activities of intestinal triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

The substitution of fish oil with plant-derived oil in diets for carnivorous fish, such as Atlantic salmon, has previously revealed the potentially deleterious supranuclear accumulation of lipid droplets in intestinal cells (enterocytes) which may compromise gut integrity, and consequently, fish health. This suggests that unfamiliar dietary lipid sources may have a significant impact on intestinal lipid metabolism, however, the mode of lipid resynthesis is largely unknown in teleost fish intestine. The present study aimed at characterising three key lipogenic enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in Atlantic salmon enterocytes: monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT), diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), and diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase (CPT). Furthermore, to investigate the dietary effect of plant oils on these enzymes, two experimental groups of fish were fed a diet with either capelin (fish oil) or vegetable oil (rapeseed oil:palm oil:linseed oil, 55:30:15 w/w) as the lipid source. The monoacylglycerol (MAG) pathway was highly active in the intestinal mucosa of Atlantic salmon as demonstrated by MGAT activity (7 nmol [1-(14)C]palmitoyl-CoA incorporated min(-1) mg protein(-1)) and DGAT activity (4 nmol [1-(14)C]palmitoyl-CoA incorporated min(-1) mg protein(-1)), with MGAT appearing to also provide adequate production of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol for potential utilisation in PC synthesis via CPT activity (0.4 nmol CDP-[(14)C]choline incorporated min(-1) mg protein(-1)). Both DGAT and CPT specific activity values were comparable to reported mammalian equivalents, although MGAT activity was lower. Nevertheless, MGAT appeared not to be the rate-limiting step in salmon intestinal TAG synthesis. The homology between piscine and mammalian enzymes was established by similar stimulation and inhibition profiles by a variety of tested cofactors and isomeric substrates. The low dietary n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio presented in the vegetable oil diet did not significantly affect the activities of MGAT, DGAT, or CPT under optimised assay conditions, or in vivo intestinal mucosa lipid class composition, when compared to a standard fish oil diet.     

Monoacylglycerol Acyltransferase-2 Is a Tetrameric Enzyme That Selectively Heterodimerizes with Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase-1

Acyl-CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferases (MGATs) and diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs) catalyze the two consecutive steps in the synthesis of triacylglycerol, a key process required for dietary fat absorption into the enterocytes of the small intestine. In this report, we investigated the tendency of MGAT2 to form an enzyme complex with DGAT1 and DGAT2 in intact cells. We demonstrated that in addition to the 38-kDa monomer of the MGAT2 enzyme predicted by its peptide sequence, a 76-kDa moiety was detected in SDS-PAGE without reducing agent and heat inactivation. The 76-kDa MGAT2 moiety was greatly enhanced by treatment with a cross-linking reagent in intact cells. Additionally, the cross-linking reagent dose-dependently yielded a band corresponding to the tetramer (152 kDa) in SDS-PAGE, suggesting that the MGAT2 enzyme primarily functions as a homotetrameric protein and as a tetrameric protein. Likewise, DGAT1 also forms a homodimer under nondenaturing conditions. When co-expressed in COS-7 cells, MGAT2 heterodimerized with DGAT1 without treatment with a cross-linking reagent. MGAT2 also co-eluted with DGAT1 on a gel filtration column, suggesting that the two enzymes form a complex in intact cells. In contrast, MGAT2 did not heterodimerize with DGAT2 when co-expressed in COS-7 cells, despite high sequence homology between the two enzymes. Furthermore, systematic deletion analysis demonstrates that N-terminal amino acids 35–80 of DGAT1, but not a signal peptide at the N terminus of MGAT2, is required for the heterodimerization. Finally, co-expression of MGAT2 with DGAT1 significantly increased lipogenesis in COS-7 cells, indicating the functional importance of the dimerization.     

Acylation of acylglycerols by acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1). Functional importance of DGAT1 in the intestinal fat absorption

Acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) is one of the four intestinal membrane bound acyltransferases implicated in dietary fat absorption. Recently, it was found that, in addition to acylating diacylglycerol (DAG), DGAT1 also possesses robust enzymatic activity for acylating monoacylglycerol (MAG) (Yen, C. L., Monetti, M., Burri, B. J., and Farese, R. V., Jr. (2005) J. Lipid Res. 46, 1502-1511). In the current paper, we have conducted a detailed characterization of this reaction in test tube, intact cell culture, and animal models. Enzymatically, we found that triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis from MAG by DGAT1 does not behave according to classic Michaelis-Menten kinetics. At low concentrations of 2-MAG (<50 microm), the major acylation product by DGAT1 was TAG; however, increased concentrations of 2-MAG (50-200 microm) resulted in decreased TAG formation. This unique product/substrate relationship is similar to MGAT3 but distinct from DGAT2 and MGAT2. We have also found that XP620 is an inhibitor that selectively inhibits the acylation of MAG by DGAT1 (IC(50) of human DGAT1: 16.6+/-4.0 nM (MAG as substrate) and 1499+/-318 nM (DAG as substrate); IC(50) values of human DGAT2, MGAT2, and MGAT3 are >30,000 nM). Using this pharmacological tool, we have shown that approximately 76 and approximately 89% of the in vitro TAG synthesis initiated from MAG is mediated by DGAT1 in Caco-2 cell and rat intestinal mucosal membranes, respectively. When applied to intact cultured cells, XP620 substantially decreased but did not abolish apoB secretion in differentiated Caco-2 cells. It also decreased TAG and DAG syntheses in primary enterocytes. Last, when delivered orally to rats, XP620 decreased absorption of orally administered lipids by approximately 50%. Based on these data, we conclude that the acylation of acylglycerols by DGAT1 is important for dietary fat absorption in the intestine.     

Evidence for regulated monoacylglycerol acyltransferase expression and activity in human liver

Intrahepatic lipid accumulation is extremely common in obese subjects and is associated with the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. Hepatic diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol synthesis predominantly occurs through acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate. However, an alternative pathway for synthesizing diacylglycerol from monoacylglycerol acyltransferases (MGAT) could also contribute to hepatic glyceride pools. MGAT activity and the expression of the three genes encoding MGAT enzymes (MOGAT1, MOGAT2, and MOGAT3) were determined in liver biopsies from obese human subjects before and after gastric bypass surgery. MOGAT expression was also assessed in liver of subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or control livers. All MOGAT genes were expressed in liver, and hepatic MGAT activity was readily detectable in liver lysates. The hepatic expression of MOGAT3 was highly correlated with MGAT activity, whereas MOGAT1 and MOGAT2 expression was not, and knockdown of MOGAT3 expression attenuated MGAT activity in a liver-derived cell line. Marked weight loss following gastric bypass surgery was associated with a significant reduction in MOGAT2 and MOGAT3 expression, which were also overexpressed in NAFLD subjects. These data suggest that the MGAT pathway is active and dynamically regulated in human liver and could be an important target for pharmacologic intervention for the treatment of obesity-related insulin resistance and NAFLD.     

Pharmacological Inhibition of Monoacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase 2 Improves Hyperlipidemia,Obesity, and Diabetes by Change in Intestinal Fat Utilization

Monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (MGAT2) catalyzes the synthesis of diacylglycerol (DG), a triacylglycerol precursor and potential peripheral target for novel anti-obesity therapeutics. High-throughput screening identified lead compounds with MGAT2 inhibitory activity. Through structural modification, a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable MGAT2 inhibitor, compound A (compA), was discovered. CompA dose-dependently inhibited postprandial increases in plasma triglyceride (TG) levels. Metabolic flux analysis revealed that compA inhibited triglyceride/diacylglycerol resynthesis in the small intestine and increased free fatty acid and acyl-carnitine with shorter acyl chains than originally labelled fatty acid. CompA decreased high-fat diet (HFD) intake in C57BL/6J mice. MGAT2-null mice showed a similar phenotype as compA-treated mice and compA did not suppress a food intake in MGAT2 KO mice, indicating that the anorectic effects were dependent on MGAT2 inhibition. Chronic administration of compA significantly prevented body weight gain and fat accumulation in mice fed HFD. MGAT2 inhibition by CompA under severe diabetes ameliorated hyperglycemia and fatty liver in HFD-streptozotocin (STZ)-treated mice. Homeostatic model assessments (HOMA-IR) revealed that compA treatment significantly improved insulin sensitivity. The proximal half of the small intestine displayed weight gain following compA treatment. A similar phenomenon has been observed in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass-treated animals and some studies have reported that this intestinal remodeling is essential to the anti-diabetic effects of bariatric surgery. These results clearly demonstrated that MGAT2 inhibition improved dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetes, suggesting that compA is an effective therapeutic for obesity-related metabolic disorders.     

Seasonal changes in critical enzymes of lipogenesis and triacylglycerol synthesis in the marmot (Marmota flaviventris)

Fatty acid metabolism and triacylglycerol synthesis are critical processes for the survival of hibernating mammals that undergo a prolonged fasting period. Fatty acid synthase, fatty-acid-CoA ligase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase, and monoacylglycerol acyltransferase activities were measured in liver and in white and brown adipose tissue, in order to determine whether enzymes of lipogenesis and triacylglycerol synthesis vary seasonally during hibernation in the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris). Compared with mid-winter hibernation, fatty acid synthase activity was higher in all three tissues during early spring when marmots emerged from hibernation and in mid-summer when they were feeding, consistent with the synthesis of fatty acids from the carbohydrate-rich summer diet. Fatty-acid-CoA ligase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase activities were highest in summer in white adipose tissue when triacylglycerol synthesis would be expected to be high; diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity was also high in brown adipose tissue during spring and summer. In liver, however, diacylglycerol acyltransferase specific activity was highest during hibernation, suggesting that triacylglycerol synthesis may be prominent in liver in winter. Monoacylglycerol acyltransferase activity, which may aid in the retention of essential fatty-acids, was 80-fold higher in liver than in white or brown adipose tissue, but did not vary seasonally. Its dependence on palmitoyl-CoA suggests that a divalent cation might play a role in enzyme activation. The high hepatic diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity during hibernation suggests that the metabolism of very low density lipoprotein may be important in the movement of adipose fatty acids to brown adipose tissue and muscle during the rewarming that occurs periodically during hibernation. These studies suggest that enzymes of lipid metabolism vary seasonally in the marmot, consistent with requirements of this hibernator for triacylglycerol synthesis and metabolism.Abbreviations BAT brown adipose tissue - DGAT diacylglycerol acyltransferase - FAS fatty acid synthase - K _m Michaelis constant - MGAT monoacylglycerol acyltransferase - RQ respiratory quotiant - VLDL very low density lipoprotein - WAT white adipose tissue     

Monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol acyltransferases and the synthesis of neutral glycerides in Manduca sexta

The insect fat body and the adipose tissue of vertebrates store fatty acids (FA) as triacylglycerols (TG). However, the fat body of most insects has the unique ability to rapidly produce and secrete large amounts of diacylglycerol (DG). Monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT), which catalyzes the synthesis of DG from MG, and a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), which catalyzes the synthesis of TG from DG, are key enzymes in the metabolism of neutral glycerides. However, very little is known about these acyltransferases in insects. In the present study we have cloned two predicted MGATs and a DGAT from Manduca sexta and compared their sequences with predicted MGAT and DGAT homologs from a number of insect species. The comparison suggested that insects may only have a single DGAT gene, DGAT1. The apparent absence of a DGAT2 gene in insects would represent a major difference with vertebrates, which contain DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes. Insects seem to have a single MGAT gene which is similar to the MGAT2 of vertebrates. A number of conserved phosphorylation sites of potential physiological significance were identified among insect proteins and among insect and vertebrate proteins. DGAT1 and MGAT are expressed in fat body, midgut and ovaries. The relative rates of utilization of FAs for the synthesis of DG and TG correlated with the relative expression levels of MGAT and DGAT suggesting that regulation of the expression levels of these acyltransferases could be determining whether the fat body secretes DG or stores fatty acids as TG. The expression patterns of the acyltransferases suggest a role of the monoacylglycerol pathway in the production and mobilization of DG in M. sexta fat body.     

SNPs in the coding region of bovine MGAT2 gene are associated with body weight and weight gain

Monoacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (MGAT2), as a candidate gene for quantitative traits, relates to dietary fat uptake, lipids synthesis and storage, which plays a major role in the absorption of dietary fat by catalyzing the resynthesis of triacylglycerol in enterocytes. In this study, based on DNA pool sequencing and PCR-RFLP methods, polymorphisms of the MGAT2 gene were detected in 1145 Chinese indigenous cattle. The results revealed two novel mutations located on exon 1 and exon 5 (NM_001099136.1:m.84G>T and 756A>G). Hence, we described the HaeIII forced PCR-RFLP method in exon1 and a MluI PCR-RFLP method in exon5 to detect them. In addition, the associations of these polymorphisms with growth traits were evaluated in Nanyang cattle. The results showed that only HaeIII locus was associated with body weight and average daily gain aged 6 months, and individuals with genotype TT showed significantly higher body weight and average daily gain than those with genotype GG.     

Recruiting a new substrate for triacylglycerol synthesis in plants: the monoacylglycerol acyltransferase pathway

Background

Monoacylglycerol acyltransferases (MGATs) are predominantly associated with lipid absorption and resynthesis in the animal intestine where they catalyse the first step in the monoacylglycerol (MAG) pathway by acylating MAG to form diacylglycerol (DAG). Typical plant triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis routes such as the Kennedy pathway do not include an MGAT step. Rather, DAG and TAG are synthesised de novo from glycerol-3-phosphate (G-3-P) by a series of three subsequent acylation reactions although a complex interplay with membrane lipids exists.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We demonstrate that heterologous expression of a mouse MGAT acyltransferase in Nicotiana benthamiana significantly increases TAG accumulation in vegetative tissues despite the low levels of endogenous MAG substrate available. In addition, DAG produced by this acyltransferase can serve as a substrate for both native and coexpressed diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT). Finally, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana GPAT4 acyltransferase can produce MAG in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using oleoyl-CoA as the acyl-donor.

Conclusions/Significance

This study demonstrates the concept of a new method of increasing oil content in vegetative tissues by using MAG as a substrate for TAG biosynthesis. Based on in vitro yeast assays and expression results in N. benthamiana, we propose that co-expression of a MAG synthesising enzyme such as A. thaliana GPAT4 and a MGAT or bifunctional M/DGAT can result in DAG and TAG synthesis from G-3-P via a route that is independent and complementary to the endogenous Kennedy pathway and other TAG synthesis routes.     

Deficiency of MGAT2 increases energy expenditure without high-fat feeding and protects genetically obese mice from excessive weight gain

Acyl CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (MGAT2) is thought to be crucial for dietary fat absorption. Indeed, mice lacking the enzyme (Mogat2(-/-)) are resistant to obesity and other metabolic disorders induced by high-fat feeding. However, these mice absorb normal quantities of fat. To explore whether a high level of dietary fat is an essential part of the underlying mechanism(s), we examined metabolic responses of Mogat2(-/-) mice to diets containing varying levels of fat. Mogat2(-/-) mice exhibited 10-15% increases in energy expenditure compared with wild-type littermates; although high levels of dietary fat exacerbated the effect, this phenotype was expressed even on a fat-free diet. When deprived of food, Mogat2(-/-) mice expended energy and lost weight like wild-type controls. To determine whether MGAT2 deficiency protects against obesity in the absence of high-fat feeding, we crossed Mogat2(-/-) mice with genetically obese Agouti mice. MGAT2 deficiency increased energy expenditure and prevented these mice from gaining excess weight. Our results suggest that MGAT2 modulates energy expenditure through multiple mechanisms, including one independent of dietary fat; these findings also raise the prospect of inhibiting MGAT2 as a strategy for combating obesity and related metabolic disorders resulting from excessive calorie intake.     

Inhibiting Monoacylglycerol Acyltransferase 1 Ameliorates Hepatic Metabolic Abnormalities but Not Inflammation and Injury in Mice

Abnormalities in hepatic lipid metabolism and insulin action are believed to play a critical role in the etiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT) enzymes convert monoacylglycerol to diacylglycerol, which is the penultimate step in one pathway for triacylglycerol synthesis. Hepatic expression of Mogat1, which encodes an MGAT enzyme, is increased in the livers of mice with hepatic steatosis, and knocking down Mogat1 improves glucose metabolism and hepatic insulin signaling, but whether increased MGAT activity plays a role in the etiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is unclear. To examine this issue, mice were placed on a diet containing high levels of trans fatty acids, fructose, and cholesterol (HTF-C diet) or a low fat control diet for 4 weeks. Mice were injected with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to knockdown Mogat1 or a scrambled ASO control for 12 weeks while remaining on diet. The HTF-C diet caused glucose intolerance, hepatic steatosis, and induced hepatic gene expression markers of inflammation, macrophage infiltration, and stellate cell activation. Mogat1 ASO treatment, which suppressed Mogat1 expression in liver and adipose tissue, attenuated weight gain, improved glucose tolerance, improved hepatic insulin signaling, and decreased hepatic triacylglycerol content compared with control ASO-treated mice on HTF-C chow. However, Mogat1 ASO treatment did not reduce hepatic diacylglycerol, cholesterol, or free fatty acid content; improve histologic measures of liver injury; or reduce expression of markers of stellate cell activation, liver inflammation, and injury. In conclusion, inhibition of hepatic Mogat1 in HTF-C diet-fed mice improves hepatic metabolic abnormalities without attenuating liver inflammation and injury.