The long and short of fatty acid synthesis.
The multienzyme complex that synthesizes very long chain fatty acids is embedded in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. In this issue, Denic and Weissman (2007) describe the reconstitution of this complex in liposomes and reveal how elongase proteins (Elops) determine the final length of the fatty acyl CoA chain.
Riezman
Howard
H
Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
D064431:3-Oxoacyl-(Acyl-Carrier-Protein) Reductase; D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000201:enzymology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000098859:Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D008081:Liposomes; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D064431:3-Oxoacyl-(Acyl-Carrier-Protein) Reductase; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases; D000098859:Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase