Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN)

Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) is a multifunctional homodimeric enzyme protein, and it is the major enzyme required for the anabolic conversion of dietary carbohydrates to fatty acids. Fatty acid synthase catalyzes the conversion of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, in the presence of NADPH, into long-chain saturated fatty acids.

Human fatty acid synthase is a large homodimeric multifunctional enzyme that synthesizes palmitic acid. The unique carboxyl terminal thioesterase domain of fatty acid synthase hydrolyzes the growing fatty acid chain and plays a critical role in regulating the chain length of fatty acid released. Also, the up-regulation of human fatty acid synthase in a variety of cancer makes the thioesterase a candidate target for therapeutic treatment.