A full-length cDNA encoding a putative diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT; EC 2.3.1.20) was obtained from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds. The 1524-bp open reading frame of this cDNA, designated as HaDGAT1, encodes a protein of 507 amino acids with a molecular mass of 58.5 kDa showing high homology to DGAT1 enzymes of other plants. The protein characters, such as a predicted structure with a long N-terminal hydrophilic domain followed by 9 transmembrane domains, acyl-CoA-binding signature, diacylglycerol (DAG)-binding and putative endoplasmic reticulum retrieval motifs (ER-DIR), also indicated that HaDGAT belongs to the DGAT1 family. HaDGAT1 is expressed in all plant tissues especially in developing seeds. Expression of recombinant HaDGAT1 in yeast showed an 1.76-fold increase of total fatty acids, especially unsaturated fatty acids such as palmitoleic acid (enhanced by 86.6%) and oleic acid (enhanced by 81.6%).
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