L-Acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase

A second esterification of this type leads to a phosphatidate (enzyme l-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 2.3.1.51). Unsaturated acyl residues, particularly oleic acid, are usually incorporated at C-2 of the glycerol. Phosphatidates (anions of phosphatidic acids) are the key molecules in the biosynthesis of fats, phospholipids, and glycolipids. 

Hares, W. and Frentzen, M. (1991) Substrate specificities of the membrane-bound and partially purified microsomal acyl-CoA l-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase from etiolated shoots of Pisum sativum (L.) Planta 185, 124-iM. 

In summary, we succeeded in the isolation of a cDNA from Limnanthes douglasii which encodes an erucoyl-CoA specific l-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase. The deduced amino acid sequence shows substantial sequence similarity to the respective acyltransferase of E. coli. Consequently, the isolated cDNA is suitable for transforming rape-seed with the aim to increase the content of erucic acid in the fatty acid composition of rapeseed oil and, thus, to improve its industrial applicability. 

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