| Type: | Conserved_site | Name: | Fatty acid desaturase, type 1, C-terminal |
| Description: | Fatty acid desaturases are enzymes that catalyse the insertion of a double bond at the delta position of fatty acids.There seems to be two distinct families of fatty acid desaturases which do not seem to be evolutionary related: the first contains stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) (); the second includes plant stearoyl-acyl-carrier protein and cyanobacteria desA protein.SCD is a key regulatory enzyme of unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. In association with cytochrome b5 and NADP-dependent cytochrome b5 reductase, it constitutes part of a microsomal membrane-bound 3-component system in animals and fungi []. SCD contains 4 putative transmembrane (TM) regions that anchor it in the microsomal membrane. SCD uses oxygen and electrons from reduced cytochrome b5 [,] to catalyse the insertion of a cis double bond between carbons 9 and 10 of a spectrum of fatty acids [,,]. The preferred substrates of SCD are palmitoyl-CoA and stearoyl-CoA, which are converted to palmitoleic (16:1) and oleic (18:1) acids respectively [,]. These unsaturated molecules are the major storage form of fatty acids (as triacylglycerols) in adipocytes []. | Short Name: | Fatty_acid_desaturase-1_C |
