Mouse fat storage‐inducing transmembrane protein 2 (FIT2) promotes lipid droplet accumulation in plants

• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12678
• Publication Date: 2016-12-17T22:19:04Z
• Authors: Yingqi Cai; Elizabeth McClinchie; Ann Price; Thuy N. Nguyen; Satinder K. Gidda; Samantha C. Watt; Olga Yurchenko; Sunjung Park; Drew Sturtevant; Robert T. Mullen; John M. Dyer; Kent D. Chapman
• Keywords: lipid storage; Nicotiana; 0303 health sciences; lipid droplets; Arabidopsis; Membrane Proteins; Lipid Droplets; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Plants, Genetically Modified; fat storage-inducing transmembrane protein 2; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; lipid partitioning; Plant Cells; Animals; Plant Oils; triacylglycerol; endoplasmic reticulums; Research Articles; Triglycerides

Fat storage-inducing transmembrane protein 2 (FIT2) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized that plays important role in lipid droplet (LD) formation animal cells. However, no obvious homologue of FIT2 found plants. Here, we tested the function plant cells by ectopically expressing mouse (Mus musculus) Nicotiana tabacum suspension-cultured cells, benthamiana leaves and Arabidopsis thaliana Confocal microscopy indicated expression dramatically increased number size LDs N. Arabidopsis, lipidomics analysis mass spectrometry imaging confirmed accumulation neutral lipids leaves. also seed oil content ~13% some stable, overexpressing lines Arabidopsis. When expressed transiently or suspension tabacum, localized specifically to ER was often concentrated at certain regions resembled ER-LD junction sites. colocalized with other proteins known be involved triacylglycerol biosynthesis LD plants, but not resident electron transfer ER-vesicle exit Collectively, these results demonstrate promotes a surprising functional conservation context cell given apparent lack homologues higher These suggest represents effective synthetic biology strategy for elaborating compartments tissues potential biofuel bioproduct purposes.