Fatty acid metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Peroxisomes are essential subcellular organelles involved in a variety of metabolic processes. Their importance is underlined by the identification of a large group of inherited diseases in humans in which one or more of the peroxisomal functions are impaired. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model organism to study the functions of peroxisomes. Efficient oxidation of fatty acids does not only require the participation of peroxisomal enzymes but also the active involvement of other gene products. One group of important gene products in this respect includes peroxisomal membrane proteins involved in metabolite transport. This overview discusses the various aspects of fatty acid β-oxidation in S. cerevisiae. Addressed are the various enzymes and their particular functions as well as the various transport mechanisms to take up fatty acids into peroxisomes or to export the β-oxidation products out of the peroxisome to mitochondria for full oxidation to CO₂ and H₂O.