The DGAT2 Antibody is a vital research reagent for scientists studying diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) — a membrane-bound enzyme that catalyzes the final and rate-limiting step in triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis.
By transferring an acyl-CoA moiety to diacylglycerol, DGAT2 forms triacylglycerol, the major energy storage molecule in eukaryotic cells.
DGAT2 plays a critical role in lipid droplet formation, fatty acid metabolism, and cellular energy homeostasis, making it a central enzyme in studies of metabolic regulation, membrane biology, and lipid biochemistry.
The AffiAB® Anti-DGAT2 Antibody provides high specificity, reproducibility, and performance across multiple research platforms including Western blot, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and protein localization studies.
Molecular Overview of DGAT2
DGAT2 (Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase 2) is encoded by the DGAT2 gene, located on chromosome 11q13.5 in humans.
The enzyme is one of two main DGAT isoforms, DGAT1 and DGAT2, both catalyzing the esterification of diacylglycerol (DAG) with acyl-CoA to form TAG (NCBI Gene Database).
While DGAT1 shares sequence similarity with acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), DGAT2 belongs to a distinct family of membrane-associated acyltransferases.
DGAT2 is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and lipid droplets, often forming oligomeric complexes for efficient substrate channeling (National Center for Biotechnology Information, RCSB Protein Data Bank).
Structural Characteristics and Enzymatic Function
DGAT2 is a membrane-associated enzyme of ~44 kDa, containing:
-
An N-terminal transmembrane region anchoring it to the ER.
-
A catalytic acyltransferase domain with a conserved H(X)4D motif essential for acyl-CoA binding.
-
A short C-terminal hydrophobic tail that stabilizes the protein within the lipid bilayer.
Crystallographic and computational modeling studies available from Protein Data Bank and UniProt Knowledgebase indicate DGAT2’s structure supports substrate channeling between the cytosolic lipid pool and ER membrane-bound DAG.
DGAT2’s catalytic mechanism involves acyl group transfer via an enzyme–acyl intermediate, facilitating the synthesis of TAGs from acyl-CoA donors (NCBI PubMed).
Biological Role in Lipid Metabolism
DGAT2 is a rate-limiting enzyme in triacylglycerol synthesis — the terminal step in the glycerol phosphate pathway.
It acts downstream of monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT) and acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL), linking fatty acid activation to storage lipid formation.
This pathway is central to:
-
Lipid droplet formation and growth
-
Energy storage and mobilization
-
Phospholipid homeostasis
-
Endoplasmic reticulum–lipid droplet interface maintenance
Research compiled by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and NCBI GEO Database supports DGAT2’s role as a central determinant of cellular lipid equilibrium.
Cellular Localization and Expression
Immunocytochemical studies have confirmed DGAT2 localization to ER membranes, mitochondrial-associated membranes (MAMs), and nascent lipid droplets (NIH Cell Image Library).
The Human Protein Atlas reports strong expression in liver, adipose tissue, intestine, and skeletal muscle, reflecting its role in lipid-rich cell types.
Fluorescence microscopy studies from Yale School of Medicine and Harvard Cell Biology Department confirm co-localization of DGAT2 with lipid droplet markers such as PLIN2 and ATGL.
Experimental Applications of DGAT2 Antibody
The DGAT2 Antibody supports a wide range of laboratory techniques:
a. Western Blot (WB)
Used to detect endogenous DGAT2 (~44 kDa) in lysates from cell lines such as HepG2, 3T3-L1, and HEK293.
Optimal dilution: 1:1000–1:3000 with PVDF membranes and ECL detection (NIH Protein Expression Resource).
b. Immunofluorescence (IF)
Visualizes DGAT2 distribution at ER–lipid droplet junctions.
Co-staining with BODIPY 493/503 enhances identification of neutral lipid compartments (Cell Image Library).
c. Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
DGAT2 antibodies detect cytoplasmic expression in paraffin-embedded tissues after citrate buffer retrieval (pH 6.0).
Optimal detection in liver, intestine, and adipose sections (Yale Histology Core Facility).
d. Immunoprecipitation (IP)
DGAT2 antibodies can isolate enzyme complexes from total membranes for mass spectrometry or enzyme activity assays (Proteome Exchange Consortium).
Mechanistic Insights and Lipid Droplet Biogenesis
DGAT2 is positioned at the ER–lipid droplet contact site, where it esterifies DAG into TAG for droplet formation.
This localization is supported by advanced confocal microscopy and electron tomography studies archived at NCBI PubMed Central.
DGAT2 works synergistically with GPAT (glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase) and AGPAT (1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase) enzymes to channel acyl groups into lipid storage, supporting dynamic regulation of lipid homeostasis in response to metabolic cues (National Center for Biotechnology Information).
DGAT2 in Cellular Metabolism Studies
DGAT2 plays pivotal roles in:
-
Adipocyte differentiation and lipid droplet expansion
-
Lipid remodeling under nutrient excess
-
Regulation of acyl-CoA flux between storage and oxidation pathways
-
Coordination of endoplasmic reticulum stress responses
Transcriptomic datasets from the GTEx Portal confirm tissue-dependent regulation of DGAT2, particularly in energy-demanding organs such as liver and heart.
Furthermore, subcellular localization studies at University of Cambridge Biochemistry Department demonstrate DGAT2 redistribution during lipogenesis.
Protein Interaction Networks
Protein–protein interaction mapping using yeast two-hybrid, immunoprecipitation, and mass spectrometry identifies DGAT2’s association with:
-
Acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSL3/5)
-
Perilipin family proteins (PLIN2, PLIN5)
-
Lipases (ATGL, HSL)
-
Seipin and FIT2 involved in droplet formation (STRING Database).
These interactions confirm DGAT2’s integration within the lipid droplet assembly machinery and membrane–lipid interface.
Technical Data and Storage Guidelines
For best performance:
-
Store the antibody at −20 °C to −80 °C, protected from light and repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
-
For short-term use, keep at 4 °C for ≤2 weeks.
-
Working dilutions:
-
WB: 1:1000–1:3000
-
IF/IHC: 1:200–1:600
-
IP: 1–2 µg per 500 µg lysate
-
Buffer: PBS + 0.05% sodium azide, 1% BSA (NIH Image Resource (IDR)).
Validation and Quality Assurance
The AffiAB® Anti-DGAT2 Antibody is validated using:
-
Western blot in DGAT2-expressing and siRNA-silenced cells.
-
Immunofluorescence co-staining with known lipid droplet markers.
-
Peptide blocking assays confirming specificity to the DGAT2 catalytic domain.
All validation procedures align with NIH Antibody Registry and Research Resource Identification Initiative (RRID) guidelines to ensure reproducibility.
Bioinformatics and Data Resources
For advanced research integration and dataset retrieval:
These databases support cross-referencing of DGAT2 with gene ontology, lipidomic pathways, and metabolic network maps.
Applications in Metabolic and Cell Biology Research
The DGAT2 Antibody is indispensable for:
-
Lipid droplet biogenesis research
-
Energy storage and utilization studies
-
Cellular lipidomics and metabolic flux analysis
-
Membrane trafficking and organelle crosstalk
-
Biochemical enzyme kinetics
Integration into high-resolution proteomic and microscopic workflows helps reveal how DGAT2 orchestrates lipid metabolism across diverse biological systems (National Institute of Health).
Conclusion
The DGAT2 Antibody serves as a cornerstone tool for researchers investigating triacylglycerol synthesis, lipid droplet biology, and metabolic enzyme regulation.
With its high specificity, validated reproducibility, and compatibility with multiple assay platforms, it supports a wide range of experimental approaches in molecular cell biology, biochemistry, and lipidomics.
The AffiAB® Anti-DGAT2 Antibody is particularly suited for advanced applications involving subcellular localization, metabolic profiling, and protein–protein interaction studies, providing precise molecular insights into lipid metabolic pathways that sustain energy balance in living systems.
DGAT2 Antibody – High-affinity antibody for triacylglycerol synthesis and lipid metabolism research. Explore its applications in Western blot, IHC, and lipid droplet imaging for energy metabolism and membrane biology.