Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Defining Substrate Specificities for Lipase and Phospholipase Candidates
Published on: November 23, 2016
The Bacillus subtilis acyl lipid desaturase is a delta5 desaturase
Silvia G Altabe1, Pablo Aguilar, Gerardo M Caballero
1Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2002LRK-Rosario, Argentina.
Abstract:
Bacillus subtilis was recently reported to synthesize unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) with a double bond at positions delta5, delta7, and delta9 (M. H. Weber, W. Klein, L. Muller, U. M. Niess, and M. A. Marahiel, Mol. Microbiol. 39:1321-1329, 2001). Since this finding would have considerable importance in the double-bond positional specificity displayed by the B. subtilis acyl lipid desaturase, we have attempted to confirm this observation. We report that the double bond of UFAs synthesized by B. subtilis is located exclusively at the delta5 position, regardless of the growth temperature and the length chain of the fatty acids.
Related Concept Videos
Lipid Digestion
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones: Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation
The carbonyl center is activated by...
Lipid Catabolism
Biosynthesis of Lipids
Formation of Lipopolysaccharides

