What is required for the activation of Fatty-acid Synthetase?

The activation of Fatty-acid Synthetase requires malonyl-CoA, which serves as the key substrate for fatty acid synthesis. Malonyl-CoA is generated from acetyl-CoA through the action of the enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase, which adds a carbon dioxide molecule to acetyl-CoA, leading to the formation of malonyl-CoA. This two-carbon building block is essential for the elongation of the fatty acid chain during the synthesis process.

Fatty-acid Synthetase operates through a series of condensation reactions in which malonyl-CoA donates two-carbon units to the growing fatty acid chain, with the eventual reduction steps leading to the complete synthesis of fatty acids. The presence of acetyl-CoA is also critical because it is the starting molecule for the synthesis and is fixed onto the enzyme complex prior to the addition of malonyl-CoA.

Thus, both acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA serve crucial roles in the activation and function of Fatty-acid Synthetase.