Desaturases

Desaturases are enzymes that introduce double bonds into fatty acyl chains, and they include EC 1.3.1.35 plus members of subclass EC 1.14.99. Fatty acid desaturases are useful for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and engineered changes to desaturases in plants and microbes can shift fatty acid contents toward desired profiles. In nature these enzymes shape the fats of oils, milk and membranes, affecting nutrition and cold tolerance. Food scientists track them when breeding healthier oilseeds and when studying how fermentation alters lipid composition.