AcylACPVerbindungen

AcylACP-Verbindungen are a class of molecules central to fatty acid biosynthesis in all known life forms. ACP stands for Acyl Carrier Protein, a small, soluble protein that acts as a swinging arm, tethering acyl chains during their elongation. The acyl group is covalently attached to the ACP via a phosphopantetheine prosthetic group, a derivative of pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5). This phosphopantetheine arm, with its terminal thiol group, is highly flexible and allows the growing fatty acid chain to move between different active sites within the fatty acid synthase complex.

During fatty acid synthesis, AcylACP-Verbindungen are repeatedly modified by a series of enzymatic reactions. These reactions involve condensation with malonyl-CoA, reduction of the carbonyl group, and dehydration, leading to the sequential addition of two-carbon units to the growing acyl chain. The thioester linkage between the acyl group and the phosphopantetheine arm of ACP is crucial for these reactions, activating the acyl group for nucleophilic attack. Once the desired fatty acid chain length is reached, the acyl group is transferred from the ACP to a free hydroxyl group, typically on another ACP molecule or a membrane lipid. AcylACP-Verbindungen are therefore transient intermediates, essential for the efficient and regulated production of fatty acids, which are vital components of cell membranes and energy storage molecules.