Diacylglycerol-O-Acyltransferase Homolog 2 (DGAT2)

The deduced 387-amino acid human protein contains at least 1 transmembrane domain, 3 potential N-linked glycosylation sites, 6 potential phosphorylation sites, and a putative glycerol phospholipid domain found in acyltransferases. Northern blot analysis revealed expression of 2.4- and 1.8-kb DGAT2 transcripts. Highest expression was in liver and white adipose tissue, with lower levels in mammary gland, testis, and peripheral blood leukocytes. Functional analysis confirmed DGAT activity, which was dependent on the presence of fatty acyl-CoA and diacylglycerol, in the membranes of DGAT2-expressing cells. The authors found that DGAT2 functions in the presence of low levels of magnesium chloride, whereas DGAT1 functions best at higher levels of magnesium chloride.