Acyltransferase polynucleotides, polypeptides and methods of use

A genetic construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding a DGAT1 polypeptide comprising at least one of:

• a) a sequence with at least 99% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:39
• b) the sequence of SEQ ID NO:39
• c) a sequence comprising at least 450 contiguous amino acids of the sequence of a) or b),
• wherein the polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter, and wherein the polynucleotide and the promoter are not found operably linked in nature.

An animal or biofuel feedstock comprising a cell transformed with a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising at least one of:

• a) a sequence with at least 99% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:39
• b) the sequence of SEQ ID NO:39
• c) a sequence comprising at least 450 contiguous amino acids of the sequence of a) or b),
• wherein the polynucleotide is heterologous to the cell.

A method for producing a lipid, the method comprising growing a cell, plant cell or plant that is transformed, or genetically modified, with a polynucleotide encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) polypeptide comprising at least one of:

• a) a sequence with at least 99% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:39
• b) the sequence of SEQ ID NO:39
• c) a sequence comprising at least 450 contiguous amino acids of the sequence of a) or b),
• wherein the cell, plant cell, or plant produces oil through the activity of the expressed polypeptide, and
• wherein the polynucleotide is heterologous to the cell.