Properties and biochemistry of phosphatidylcholine: diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase

Plant oils, primarily composed of triacylglycerols (TAGs), are essential for both food and industrial applications. TAGs consist of three fatty acids esterified to a glycerol backbone, and their value and functionality are largely determined by their fatty acid composition. Hence, enhancing the fatty acid profile of plant oils is a primary focus for improving their economic and practical potential. Phosphatidylcholine: Diacylglycerol Cholinephosphotransferase (PDCT), encoded by the REDUCED OLEATE DESATURATION1 (ROD1) gene in Arabidopsis thaliana, catalyzes the interconversion between phosphatidylcholine, the site of fatty acid modification, and diacylglycerol, the precursor of TAG assembly. PDCT plays a key role in determining the fatty acid composition and quality of oils, making it an attractive target for engineering crops with tailored oil profiles. This review systematically examines the biochemical, genetic, and molecular biology research on PDCT over the past decades, focusing on its phylogeny, physiological roles, regulation, biochemical characterization, structural features, and biotechnological applications. We also analyze the predicted structure of PDCT, which suggests a domain-swapped homodimer configuration based on AlphaFold3 modeling, and we discuss potential catalytic mechanisms. Finally, we highlight key open questions in the field and propose future research directions.