Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
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...

ATP Synthase: Structure

ATP Synthase: Structure

ATP synthase or ATPase is among the most conserved proteins found in bacteria, mammals, and plants. This enzyme can catalyze a forward reaction in response to the electrochemical gradient, producing ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. ATP synthase can also work in a reverse direction by hydrolyzing ATP and generating an electrochemical gradient. Different forms of ATP synthases have evolved special features to meet the specific demands of the cell. Based on their specific feature, ATP...

Biosynthesis of Lipids

Biosynthesis of Lipids

Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, which...

ATP Synthase: Mechanism

ATP Synthase: Mechanism

In animals, the mitochondrial F1F0 ATP synthase is the key protein that synthesizes ATP molecules through a complex catalytic mechanism. While the nuclear genome encodes the majority of ATP synthase subunits, the mitochondrial genome encodes some of the enzyme's most critical components. The formation of this multi-subunit enzyme is a complex multi-step process regulated at the level of transcription, translation, and assembly. Defects in one or more of these steps can result in decreased ATP...

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

Ribosome synthesis is a highly complex and coordinated process involving more than 200 assembly factors. The synthesis and processing of ribosomal components occurs not only in the nucleolus but also in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...

Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Mechanism

Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Mechanism

Carboxylic acids react with alcohols to yield esters via an acid-catalyzed condensation reaction called Fischer esterification. This is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction that proceeds via a tetrahedral intermediate, where a water molecule is eliminated as the leaving group.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Structural basis of cotranslational protein N-terminal acetylation by NatB in human cells.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Response to: Five methodological considerations for validating LLMs in risk of bias assessment.

Research synthesis methods·2026

Same author

Cotranslational Assembly of Oligomeric Proteins.

Annual review of biochemistry·2026

Same author

NAC promotes co-translational protein folding at the ribosomal tunnel exit.

Molecular cell·2026

Same author

Exploring the potential of Claude 2 for risk of bias assessment: Using a large language model to assess randomized controlled trials with RoB 2.

Research synthesis methods·2026

Same author

Acid Versus Amide-Facts and Fallacies: A Case Study in Glycomimetic Ligand Design.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Expression, Purification, Crystallization, and Enzyme Assays of Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase Domain-Containing Proteins

Expression, Purification, Crystallization, and Enzyme Assays of Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase Domain-Containing Proteins

Published on: June 20, 2019

Structure and function of eukaryotic fatty acid synthases.

Timm Maier¹, Marc Leibundgut, Daniel Boehringer

¹Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics

|August 25, 2010

Summary

Eukaryotic fatty acid synthases (FASs) show distinct architectures. Fungal FAS is a barrel-shaped complex optimized for saturated fatty acids, while animal FAS is an X-shaped homodimer with flexible domains for efficient synthesis.

More Related Videos

Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids

Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids

Published on: June 28, 2019

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes

Published on: February 9, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Expression, Purification, Crystallization, and Enzyme Assays of Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase Domain-Containing Proteins

Expression, Purification, Crystallization, and Enzyme Assays of Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase Domain-Containing Proteins

Published on: June 20, 2019

Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids

Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids

Published on: June 28, 2019

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes

Published on: February 9, 2018

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Structural Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Fatty acid synthesis (FAS) is a fundamental metabolic process conserved across organisms.
In eukaryotes, FAS is performed by large, multifunctional enzymes, unlike the dissociated enzymes in bacteria.
Recent advances have elucidated the complex structures of eukaryotic FASs.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the structural and functional organization of eukaryotic fatty acid synthases (FASs).
To compare the distinct architectures of fungal and animal FAS systems.

Main Methods:

Biochemical approaches
Electron microscopy
X-ray crystallography

Main Results:

Revealed distinct architectures for fungal and animal FAS.
Fungal FAS: 2.6 MDa α₆β₆ heterododecamer, barrel-shaped, optimized for saturated fatty acids.
Animal FAS: 540 kDa X-shaped homodimer, modular domains, conformational flexibility enhancing catalytic efficiency.

Conclusions:

Eukaryotic FASs exhibit divergent evolutionary paths in their structural organization.
The unique structures of fungal and animal FAS are tailored for their specific roles in fatty acid metabolism.