Structure and dynamics of the acyl carrier protein linker in the fungal fatty acid synthase

Abstract

Fatty acid synthesis is a central pillar of metabolism, providing essential molecules for energy storage, cell wall integrity and signal transduction. Fatty acids are synthesized in an iterative cycle of reactions, carried out by multiple enzymes. In fungi, the capabilities of these enzymes are combined in a single heterododecameric complex. The fungal fatty acid synthase (FAS) provides six catalytic units in two semispherical reaction chambers. Nascent fatty acids are covalently linked to an integral acyl carrier protein (ACP), confined in the reaction chambers.