Work

Quaternary structure of human fatty acid synthase by electron cryomicroscopy

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: We present the first three-dimensional reconstruction of human fatty acid synthase obtained by electron cryomicroscopy and single-particle image processing. The structure shows that the synthase is composed of two monomers, arranged in an antiparallel orientation, which is consistent with biochemical data. The monomers are connected to each other at their middle by a bridge of density, a site proposed to be the combination of the interdomain regions of the two monomers. Each monomer subunit appears to be subdivided into three structural domains. With this reconstruction of the synthase, we propose a location for the enzyme's two fatty acid synthesis sites.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.012589499

Authors: Jacob Brink, Steven J. Ludtke, Chao-Yuh Yang, Zei-Wei Gu, Salih J. Wakil, Wah Chiu

Institution: Baylor College of Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism

Subfield: Cancer Research

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green