Plant Acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferases (LPCATs) have different specificities in their forward and reverse reactions

Abstract

Background: Acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) enzymes have central roles in acyl editing of phosphatidylcholine. Results: Plant LPCATs were expressed in yeast and biochemically characterized. Conclusion: LPCATs can edit acyl composition of phosphatidylcholine through their combined forward and reverse reactions. Significance: Plant LPCATs play a role in editing both sn-positions of PC and remove ricinoleic acid with high selectivity from this lipid. © 2013 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.