The present invention relates to diacylglycerol acyltransferase genes and proteins, and methods of their use. In particular, the invention describes genes encoding proteins having increased diacylglycerol acetyltransferase activity compared to prior art proteins, specifically for transferring an acetyl group to a diacylglycerol substrate to form acetyl-Triacylglycerols (acetyl-TAGS), for example, a 3-acetyl-1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol. The present invention encompasses both native and recombinant wild-type forms of the transferase, as well as mutants and variant forms. The present invention also relates to methods of using the diacylglycerol acyltransferase genes and proteins, including their expression in transgenic organisms at commercially viable levels, for increasing production of 3-acetyl-1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols in plant oils and altering the composition of oils produced by microorganisms, such as yeast, by increasing acetyl-TAG production. Additionally, oils produced by methods of the present inventions comprising genes and proteins are contemplated for use as biodiesel fuel, in polymer production and as naturally produced food oils with reduced calories.

The present invention provides for a genetically modified yeast cell comprising at least six or more of the following modifications: increased expression of Mus musculus fatty acid reductase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase 1, fatty acid synthase 2, a mutant of the bottleneck enzyme encoded by ACC1 insensitive to post-transcriptional and post-translational repression, and/or a desaturase encoded by OLE1, and reduced expression of DGA1, HFD1, ADH6, and/or GDH1. The present invention provides a method for constructing the genetically modified yeast cell, and a method for producing a fatty alcohol from the genetically modified yeast cell.

The present embodiments provide methods, compounds, and compositions useful for inhibiting DGAT2 expression, which may be useful for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a disease associated with DGAT2.

Recombinant DNA techniques are used to produce oleaginous recombinant cells that produce triglyceride oils having desired fatty acid profiles and regiospecific or stereospecific profiles. Genes manipulated include those encoding stearoyl-ACP desaturase, delta 12 fatty acid desaturase, acyl-ACP thioesterase, ketoacyl-ACP synthase, and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase. The oil produced can have enhanced oxidative or thermal stability, or can be useful as a frying oil, shortening, roll-in shortening, tempering fat, cocoa butter replacement, as a lubricant, or as a feedstock for various chemical processes. The fatty acid profile can be enriched in midchain profiles or the oil can be enriched in triglycerides of the saturated-unsaturated-saturated type.

Presented herein are oleaginous strains of yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae that have been modified to allow for xylose utilization. Such strains are also modified to allow for higher lipid accumulation utilizing a broad range of sugar monomers such as those released during pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass. Methods of producing lipids and ethanol using these yeast strains are also disclosed.

Provided herein are novel acyltransferases and methods of using such novel acyltransferases in making medium-chain fatty acids.

The present disclosure relates to the production of cannabinoids in yeast. In as aspect there is provided a genetically modified yeast comprising: one or more GPP producing genes and optionally, one or more GPP pathway genes; two or more olivetolic acid producing genes; one or more cannabinoid precursor or cannabinoid producing genes; one or more Hexanoyl-CoA producing genes, and at least 5% dry weight of fatty acids or fats.

The invention provides a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for producing a human milk lipid substitute. By integrating a heterologous lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase into Saccharomyces cerevisiae and knocking out its own natural lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase, the content of palmitic acid (C16:0) at Sn-2 position of triacylglycerol produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae is increased, to synthesize a human milk lipid substitute. On this basis, a metabolic pathway related gene is knocked out, to further increase the content of human milk lipid substitute in the product. In the present invention, a human milk lipid substitute is de novo synthesized by Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the first time, in which the total fatty acid is 15% or more, and the relative content of C16:0 at Sn-2 position reaches about 60%.

Provided are compositions comprising polynucleotides encoding modified diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1) polypeptides having improved properties, such as increased enzymatic activity and/or increased stability. Plants, plant cells, seed, grain and comprising the polynucleotides are provided which have one or more of increased fatty acid or protein content. Methods of generating the polynucleotides in plant cells include transformation and genetic modification. Methods of employing the polynucleotides in plants, methods for increasing DGAT1 activity in a plant, and methods for increasing fatty acid content or protein content in a plant are provided.

The present invention is related to a novel enzymatic process for production of retinyl esters, such as in particular retinyl long chain esters, via conversion of retinol, which process includes the use of enzymes having acyltransferase activity. Said process might be used for biotechnological production of vitamin A.