${\beta}$-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthases for fatty acid biosynthesis in bacteria

A universal set of genes encodes the components of dissociated. type II. fa11y acid synthase system that is responsible for producing the multitude of fa11y acid structures found in bacterial membranes. We examined the biochemical basis for the production of fatty acids by bacteria. Several genes from HaemophHus influenzae Rd and three genes from Enterococcus faecalis V583 were predicted to encode homologs of the ${\beta}$-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthases I or II or III of Escherichia coli(FabB or BabF, or FabH)were identified in the genomic database. The protein products were expressed. purified, and biochemically characterized. efFabH and hF abH carried out the initial condensation reaction of fatty acid biosynthesis with acetyl-Coenzyme A as a primer. and hFabB and efFabF1 carried out the elongation condensation reaction of fatty acid biosynthesis with myrixtoyl-ACP.