Fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) is an

enzyme An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different mol ...

that in humans is encoded by the ''FADS1''

gene In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...

Function

The protein encoded by the FADS1 gene is a member of the

fatty acid desaturase Fatty acid desaturases (also called unsaturases) are a family of enzymes that convert saturated fatty acids into unsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. For the common fatty acids of the C18 variety, desaturases convert stearic ...

(FADS) gene family and desaturates omega-3 and omega-6

polyunsaturated fatty acid In biochemistry and nutrition, a polyunsaturated fat is a fat that contains a polyunsaturated fatty acid (abbreviated PUFA), which is a subclass of fatty acid characterized by a backbone with two or more carbon–carbon double bonds. Some polyunsa ...

s at the delta-5 position, catalyzing the final step in the formation of

eicosapentaenoic acid Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; also icosapentaenoic acid) is an omega−3 fatty acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 20:5(''n''−3). It also has the trivial name timnodonic acid. In chemical structure, EPA is a carboxylic acid wi ...

(EPA) and

arachidonic acid Arachidonic acid (AA, sometimes ARA) is a polyunsaturated omega−6 fatty acid 20:4(ω−6), or 20:4(5,8,11,14). It is a precursor in the formation of leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes. Together with omega−3 fatty acids an ...

. Desaturase enzymes (such as those encoded by FADS1) regulate unsaturation of

fatty acid In chemistry, in particular in biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated and unsaturated compounds#Organic chemistry, saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an ...

s through the introduction of double bonds between defined carbons of the fatty acyl chain. FADS family members are considered fusion products composed of an

N-terminal The N-terminus (also known as the amino-terminus, NH2-terminus, N-terminal end or amine-terminus) is the start of a protein or polypeptide, referring to the free amine group (-NH2) located at the end of a polypeptide. Within a peptide, the amin ...

cytochrome b5 Cytochromes ''b''5 are ubiquitous electron transport hemoproteins found in animals, plants, fungi and purple bacteria, purple phototrophic bacteria. The microsome, microsomal and mitochondrial variants are membrane-bound, while bacterial and tho ...

-like domain and a

C-terminal The C-terminus (also known as the carboxyl-terminus, carboxy-terminus, C-terminal tail, carboxy tail, C-terminal end, or COOH-terminus) is the end of an amino acid chain (protein or polypeptide), terminated by a free carboxyl group (-COOH). When t ...

multiple membrane-spanning desaturase portion, both of which are characterized by conserved

histidine Histidine (symbol His or H) is an essential amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an Amine, α-amino group (which is in the protonated –NH3+ form under Physiological condition, biological conditions), a carboxylic ...

motifs. This gene is clustered with family members FADS1 and

FADS2 Fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''FADS2'' gene. Function The protein encoded by the FADS2 gene is a member of the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) gene family and desaturates omega-3 and omega-6 polyu ...

at 11q12-q13.1; this cluster is thought to have arisen evolutionarily from gene duplication based on its similar exon/intron organization.

Clinical significance

Single nucleotide polymorphisms In genetics and bioinformatics, a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP ; plural SNPs ) is a germline substitution of a single nucleotide at a specific position in the genome. Although certain definitions require the substitution to be present in ...

(SNPs) of FADS1 and FADS2 may affect long-chain polyunsaturated

fatty acids In chemistry, in particular in biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an unbranched chain of an even number of carbon atoms, ...

(LC-PUFA) metabolism and have a potential role in the development of

atopic Atopy is the tendency to produce an exaggerated immunoglobulin E (IgE) immune response to otherwise harmless substances in the environment. Allergic diseases are clinical manifestations of such inappropriate, atopic responses. Atopy may have a ...

diseases.

Function

Clinical significance

References

Further reading