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Diglyceride acyltransferase (or O-acyltransferase), DGAT, catalyzes the formation of triglycerides from diacylglycerol and Acyl-CoA. There are two isoforms of DGAT encoded by the genes DGAT1 and DGAT2. Although both isoforms catalyze similar reactions, they have no sequence homology to each other. DGAT is considered the terminal and only committed step in triglyceride synthesis and to be essential for the formation of adipose tissue.[1] A number of pharmaceutical companies currently have DGAT-1 inhibitors in clinical trials for the treatment of obesity.[2]
Mice with genetic disruption of the dgat1 or dgat2 genes have been made by the Farese laboratory at UCSF. Surprisingly, DGAT1-/- mice[3] are healthy and fertile and have no changes in triglyceride levels. These mice are also lean and resistant to diet-induced obesity, consequently generating interest in DGAT1 inhibitors for the treatment of obesity. In contrast, DGAT2-/- mice[4] have reduced triglyceride levels but are lipopenic, suffer from skin barrier abnormalities (including the inability to retain moisture), and die shortly after birth.
References
- ^ Cases S, Smith SJ, Zheng YW, Myers HM, Lear SR, Sande E, Novak S, Collins C, Welch CB, Lusis AJ, Erickson SK, Farese RV (1998). "Identification of a gene encoding an acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase, a key enzyme in triacylglycerol synthesis". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95 (22): 13018–23. PMID 9789033.
- ^ "Pfizer, Bristol finalize deal on metabolic drugs". Retrieved on 2007-08-27.
- ^ Smith SJ et al. Obesity resistance and multiple mechanisms of triglyceride synthesis in mice lacking Dgat. Nat Genet. 2000 May;25(1):87-90.
- ^ Stone SJ et al. Lipopenia and skin barrier abnormalities in DGAT2-deficient mice. J Biol Chem. 2004 Mar 19;279(12):11767-76.
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