PubMed · 2025-11-21
Scientists are reviewing a key plant enzyme called PDCT that controls which fatty acids end up in seed oils. Understanding and engineering this enzyme could let plant breeders design crops with healthier or more industrially useful oils.
PDCT (encoded by the ROD1 gene in Arabidopsis) catalyzes the interconversion between phosphatidylcholine and diacylglycerol, directly controlling which fatty acids are incorporated into seed oils.
AlphaFold3 structural modeling predicts PDCT adopts a domain-swapped homodimer configuration, providing the first structural framework for understanding its catalytic mechanism.
PDCT is identified as a high-value biotechnology target for engineering crops with tailored fatty acid profiles for food quality or industrial applications.
