Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase

**Definition:** A fatty acid desaturase that is a rate-limiting enzyme for the conversion from dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid and EICOSATETRAENOATE (ETA) in the synthesis of ARACHIDONIC ACID and EICOSAPENTAENOATE (EPA). It is also involved in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids from the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), LINOLEIC ACID (LA), and ALPHA LINOLENIC ACID (ALA) precursors and plays an important role in the metabolism of inflammatory lipids including PROSTAGLANDIN E2.

**Tree numbers:** - D08.811.682.690.708.392.390

**Synonyms:** - Delta 5 Desaturase - Fatty Acid Delta-5-Desaturase - Delta-5-FADase