Acyl carrier protein (ACP)

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is a small, highly conserved protein that acts as a central scaffold in the biosynthesis of fatty acids and related secondary metabolites, such as polyketides. ACP carries growing acyl chains covalently via a thioester bond to a 4'-phosphopantetheine prosthetic group attached to a conserved serine residue. This transfer and delivery function is essential for the stepwise elongation of fatty acids and assembly of complex natural products. In bacteria and plastids, ACP exists as an independent protein (Type II FAS); in eukaryotic cytosol, ACP is a domain of the large multifunctional Type I fatty acid synthase complex. The structure is a four-helix bundle with conformational flexibility, crucial for its function as an interaction hub for biosynthetic enzymes. Due to its essential role in bacterial viability and secondary metabolism, ACP and its associated pathways are considered attractive targets for new antibiotics and anticancer agents[1][3][5][6].

Other names

Peptidyl carrier protein (historically related but distinct)ACP (common abbreviation)sometimes "Fatty acid synthase ACP domain" (in eukaryotes)mitochondrial acyl carrier protein (in mitochondria)

Inhibition of ACP or ACP-dependent enzymes may block fatty acid biosynthesis in bacteria, inhibiting cell growth and survival[5][7]. Small molecules may disrupt the interaction between ACP and partner enzymes.