Characterization of an acyl-CoA synthetase from Arabidopsis thaliana

One of the major goals of modern plant biotechnology is to manipulate lipid metabolism in oilseed crops to produce new and improved edible and industr ial vegetable oils. Lipids constitute the structural components of cellular membranes and act as sources of energy for the germinating seed and are th erefore essential to plant cell function. Both de novo synthesis and modifi cation of existing lipids are dependent on the activity of acyl-CoA synthet ases (ACSs), To date, ACSs have been recalcitrant to traditional methods of purification due to their association with membranes. In our laboratory, s everal isoforms of ACSs have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, Rever se genetics allowed us to identify a mutant containing a transfer DNA-inter rupted ACS gene. Results will be presented that describe the isolation and characterization of this mutant. The elucidation of the specific roles of A CSs will lead to a greater understanding of plant lipid metabolism.