The Delta6 Fatty Acid Desaturase (Delta6-FADS)-like CD includes the integral-membrane enzymes: delta-4, delta-5, delta-6, delta-8, delta-8-sphingolipid, and delta-11 desaturases found in vertebrates, higher plants, fungi, and bacteria. These desaturases are required for the synthesis of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs), which are mainly esterified into phospholipids and contribute to maintaining membrane fluidity. While HUFAs may be required for cold tolerance in bacteria, plants and fish, the primary role of HUFAs in mammals is cell signaling. These enzymes are described as front-end desaturases because they introduce a double bond between the pre-exiting double bond and the carboxyl (front) end of the fatty acid. Various substrates are involved, with both acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) and acyl-lipid desaturases present in this CD. Acyl-lipid desaturases are localized in the membranes of cyanobacterial thylakoid, plant endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and plastid; and acyl-CoA desaturases are present in ER membrane. ER-bound plant acyl-lipid desaturases and acyl-CoA desaturases require cytochrome b5 as an electron donor. Most of the eukaryotic desaturase domains have an adjacent N-terminal cytochrome b5-like domain. This domain family has extensive hydrophobic regions that would be capable of spanning the membrane bilayer at least twice. Comparison of sequences also reveals the existence of three regions of conserved histidine cluster motifs that contain the residues: HXXXH, HXX(X)HH, and Q/HXXHH. These histidine residues are reported to be catalytically essential and proposed to be the ligands for the iron atoms contained within the homolog, stearoyl CoA desaturase.
Comment:Site-directed mutagenesis of borage delta-6 desaturase revealed that the glutamine residue (of the third His-box) is essential for its activity.
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",