Abstract
Fatty acid synthesis is known to occur exclusively in plastids, since it has been shown that the enzymes essential for fatty acid biosynthesis are found only in this organelle (Ohlrogge et al., 1979). Hence, in leaves fatty acids are made in chloroplasts and in seeds they are formed in modified plastids (leucoplasts) that are specialized for fatty acid biosynthesis. The precursor for fatty acid biosynthesis is acetyl CoA. This has first to be activated by the addition of a carboxyl group to the methyl end of the molecule, a process that requires ATP. The product of this reaction, malonyl CoA, then undergoes a series of condensations in which the C2 unit of the acetyl CoA is converted usually into a C18 fatty acid, although shorter chains may be formed in some seeds. The fatty acid is released from the plastid and is further modified by reactions in the cytosol. The modified fatty acid may also re-enter the plastid and form part of the plastid membrane system .
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Dennis, D.T. (1987). Fatty Acid Synthesis and Breakdown. In: The Biochemistry of Energy Utilization in Plants. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3121-3_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3121-3_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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