Acyl-CoA wax alcohol acyltransferase 1 (long-chain-alcohol O-fatty-acyltransferase 1, diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2-like protein 3, diacyl-glycerol acyltransferase 2, DGAT2L3, AWAT1, DGA2)

Function

• acyltransferase
• predominantly esterifies long chain (wax) alcohols with acyl-CoA-derived fatty acids to produce wax esters
• role in lipid metabolism in skin. (putative)
• preference for arachidyl alcohol as well as decyl alcohol, relatively poor activity using saturated long chain alcohols (C16, C18, & C20)

Acyl-CoA + a long-chain alcohol <--> CoA + long-chain ester

Kinetic parameters:

• Vmax=31.7 pmol/min/mg enzyme with [14C]oleoyl-CoA as substrate
• Vmax=113 pmol/min/mg enzyme with [14C]acetyl-CoA as substrate

Structure

belongs to the diacylglycerol acyltransferase family

Compartment

endoplasmic reticulum membrane

Expression

• predominantly expressed in skin, where it is limited to the sebaceous gland
• expressed in more mature, centrally located cells just before their rupture & sebum release
• expressed in all tissues except spleen
• expressed at higher level in thymus, prostate & testis

More general terms

• acyltransferase

Database

• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q58HT5.html