Understanding the roles of diacylglycerol acyltransferases in triacylglycerol biosynthesis and storage

三酰甘油（TG）是大多数生物体代谢能量的最重要的储存形式。TG由三个脂肪酸连接的甘油主链组成。因为它们是高度还原和无水的，TG能够提供比碳水化合物或蛋白质更多的能量。真核生物将TG储存在胞质脂滴中，当能量需求得不到满足时，这些脂滴可以在营养缺乏期间代谢。植物在种子中储存大量TG，用作幼苗生长和发育的能量。

Triacylglycerol (TG) is quantitatively the most important storage form of metabolic energy for most living organisms. TGs consist of a glycerol backbone to which three fatty acids are attached. Because they are highly reduced and anhydrous, TGs are capable of providing much more energy than carbohydrate or protein. Eukaryotic organisms store TGs in cytosolic lipid droplets that can be metabolized during periods of nutrient deprivation when energy requirements are not being satisfied. Plants store large quantities of TGs in seeds that are used as energy for seedling growth and development.