Recombinant E. coli Acyl carrier protein (Tagged)

Supplementary information

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is a central component in fatty acid biosynthesis. It functions by transferring acyl groups during the assembly of fatty acids. Frequently called 'carrier proteins' or 'acyl carrier' ACP has a molecular mass around 9 kDa. E. coli carrier protein is a well-studied example expressed in the cytosol of prokaryotic cells including E. coli.

Biological function summary

Acyl carrier proteins play an essential role in lipid metabolism by ensuring the transfer of acyl intermediates. ACP acts as a cofactor to enzymes in the fatty acid synthase complex enabling the elongation of carbon chains during lipid synthesis. By binding acyl groups ACP facilitates their transfer to specific enzymes within this complex ensuring efficient synthesis.

Pathways

The acyl carrier proteins are integral to the fatty acid synthesis pathway. This pathway involves enzymes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase which initiates the conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA a substrate modified later by ACP. In addition to fatty acid synthesis ACP is involved in the polyketide synthesis pathway working alongside polyketide synthase to play a role in the production of secondary metabolites.

Disruptions in acyl carrier protein function can influence metabolic disorders. Alterations in fatty acid metabolism may lead to conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Additionally ACP's interaction with proteins like thioesterase can impact the production of lipid-derived signaling molecules affecting lipid-related pathologies. By understanding ACP mechanisms we can explore therapeutic targets for related metabolic diseases.