title: Emerging roles for specific fatty acids in developmental processes.
abstract: Animals synthesize a vast range of fatty acids serving diverse cellular functions. The roles of specific fatty acids in early development are just beginning to be characterized. In the March 15, 2012, issue of Genes & Development, Kniazeva and colleagues (pp. 554-566) describe how the particular combination of a branched chain fatty acid and an acyl-CoA synthetase is required for critical cellular processes during early embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Vrablik
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Watts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate