title: Triacylglycerol Metabolism, Function, and Accumulation in Plant Vegetative Tissues.
abstract: Oils in the form of triacylglycerols are the most abundant energy-dense storage compounds in eukaryotes, and their metabolism plays a key role in cellular energy balance, lipid homeostasis, growth, and maintenance. Plants accumulate oils primarily in seeds and fruits. Plant oils are used for food and feed and, increasingly, as feedstocks for biodiesel and industrial chemicals. Although plant vegetative tissues do not accumulate significant levels of triacylglycerols, they possess a high capacity for their synthesis, storage, and metabolism. The development of plants that accumulate oil in vegetative tissues presents an opportunity for expanded production of triacylglycerols as a renewable and sustainable bioenergy source. Here, we review recent progress in the understanding of triacylglycerol synthesis, turnover, storage, and function in leaves and discuss emerging genetic engineering strategies targeted at enhancing triacylglycerol accumulation in biomass crops. Such plants could potentially be modified to produce oleochemical feedstocks or nutraceuticals.
authors: Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973; email: cxu@bnl.gov , shanklin@bnl.gov.
authors: Changcheng
authors: C
authors: Xu
authors: Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973; email: cxu@bnl.gov , shanklin@bnl.gov.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Shanklin
mesh_terms: D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: fatty acid; lipid homeostasis; metabolic engineering; triacylglycerol; β-oxidation