Mouse FIT2 Protein Promotes Lipid Droplet Accumulation in Plants
February 1, 2017http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pbi.12678/full
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Fat storage-inducing transmembrane protein 2 (FIT2) is an endoplasmic reticulum-localized protein that plays an important role in lipid droplet (LD) formation in animal cells. However, no obvious homologue of FIT2 is found in plants.
Yingqi Cai of University of North Texas led a research team from various academic institutions to test the function of FIT2 in plant cells by expressing mouse (Mus musculus) FIT2 in Nicotiana tabacum suspension-cultured cells, Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and Arabidopsis thaliana plants.
The expression of FIT2 dramatically increased the number and size of LDs in leaves of N. benthamiana and Arabidopsis. Analysis confirmed the accumulation of neutral lipids in leaves. FIT2 also increased seed oil content by 13% in some overexpressing lines of Arabidopsis.
These results demonstrate that mouse FIT2 can promote LD accumulation in plants. These also suggest that FIT2 expression can be an effective strategy for studies regarding neutral lipid compartments in plant tissues for potential biofuel production.
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