Elongase
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elongase is a generic term for an enzyme that extends the length of fatty acid. The nomenclature is not applied rigorously. Often, elongase refers to enzymes that produce very long chain fatty acids. Sometimes, elongase also includes unsaturases, which introduce C=C double bonds in the backbone.[1] Because fatty acids and their derivatives are biochemically influential, elongases are of considerable interest.
Fatty acids up to C16 in length are produced by fatty acid synthases (FAS's).[2] The starting point is the acetyl derivative of the acyl carrier protein, which adds two-carbon building blocks provided by malonyl coenzyme A (after decarboxylation). This process produces 3-ketoacyl-CoA's as intermediates. The C=O (keto) group is replaced with CH2 via a series of steps. This process is repeated up to C16.