Catalyzes the terminal and only committed step in triacylglycerol synthesis by using diacylglycerol and fatty acyl CoA as substrates. Highly expressed in epithelial cells of the small intestine and its activity is essential for the absorption of dietary fats. In liver, plays a role in esterifying exogenous fatty acids to glycerol, and is required to synthesize fat for storage (By similarity). Also present in female mammary glands, where it produces fat in the milk (By similarity). May be involved in VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) assembly (By similarity). In contrast to DGAT2 it is not essential for survival (By similarity). Functions as the major acyl-CoA retinol acyltransferase (ARAT) in the skin, where it acts to maintain retinoid homeostasis and prevent retinoid toxicity leading to skin and hair disorders (By similarity). Exhibits additional acyltransferase activities, includin acyl CoA:monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MGAT), wax monoester and wax diester synthases (By similarity). Also able to use 1-monoalkylglycerol (1-MAkG) as an acyl acceptor for the synthesis of monoalkyl-monoacylglycerol (MAMAG) (By similarity).
Subcellular locations: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane