FATTY
ACID BIOSYNTHESIS
Fatty acid biosynthesis involves the repeated incorporation of acetyl-CoA into a 16 or 18-carbon chain within the plastid. There are 2 enzymes involved in this process as seen below: acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). This entire process is initiated by the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to form malonyl-CoA. It is next transferred to a carrier protein (ACP). The malonyl moiety is decarboxylated in the cyclic reactions, which drives a condensation reaction. A combination of reduction, dehydration and another reduction yields the reduced acyl-ACP.
