Bacterial fatty acid synthase (type II) (FAS (type II); sometimes referred to as FASII)

Bacterial fatty acid synthesis is an essential metabolic pathway utilizing a collection of discrete enzymes to assemble fatty acids from acetyl-CoA precursors, extending them two carbons at a time via iterative reactions[1][4][5]. Key components include acetyl-CoA carboxylase, 3-ketoacyl-ACP synthases (FabB, FabF), reductases (FabG, FabI), and acyl carrier protein (ACP)[1][4][5]. This pathway differs significantly from mammalian fatty acid synthesis ("type I") and offers several points of vulnerability for antibiotic development, as the enzymes involved are structurally distinct and required for bacterial cell membrane formation[2][5]. Drug resistance can arise due to environmental fatty acid scavenging and enzymatic redundancy, complicating therapeutic interventions[2].

Other names

Fatty acid synthesis pathway (type II)FASIIBacterial fatty acid synthase system

Enzyme inhibition (preventing successive steps in fatty acid elongation) Preventing reduction (inhibition of reductase enzymes like FabI) Blocking substrate activation (e.g., inhibiting acyl-acyl carrier protein synthetase)