Fatty acid synthase

Fatty acid synthase

 

 

Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the FASN gene.

 

 

Chromosome 17 

 

 

Fatty acid synthase is a multi-enzyme protein that catalyzes fatty acid synthesis. 

 

 

It is not a single enzyme.

 

 

It is  a whole enzymatic system composed of two identical 

 

multifunctional polypeptides.

 

 

FASN’s main function is to catalyze the synthesis of palmitate, a long-chain saturated fatty acid, from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, in the presence of NADPH.

 

 

There are two principal classes of fatty acid synthases.

 

 

FAS is upregulated in breast cancers.

 

 

It may also be involved in the production of an endogenous ligand for the nuclear receptor PPARalpha, the target of the fibrate drugs for hyperlipidemia, and is a possible drug target for treating the metabolic syndrome.

 

 

Orlistat, a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor also inhibits FAS.

 

 

This  protein has been found to be fused with estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha).

 

 

An association with uterine leiomyomata has been suggested.