Topological study of mechanistic diversity in conjugated fatty acid biosynthesis

Variations on an oxidative theme: The precision with which FAD2-type desaturases carry out C 12H activation reactions on flexible lipidic substrates is astonishing. The conformational space available within the active site of these enzymes has been explored using deuterium-labeled substrates, and evidence for a novel quasi-eclipsed conformer has been uncovered. The scheme shows some prototypical substrate conformations.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye