Fatty Acid Desaturase 3 (FADS3)

FADS3 is a member of the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) gene family. FADS family members are considered fusion products composed of an N-terminal cytochrome b5-like domain and a C-terminal multiple membrane-spanning desaturase portion, both of which are characterized by conserved histidine motifs.

FADS3 encodes a deduced 445-amino acid protein that shares 52% and 62% sequence identity with FADS1 and FADS2, respectively. All 3 proteins show significant homology to known desaturase enzymes, including 3 histidine motifs characteristic of membrane-bound desaturases, up to 4 transmembrane domains, and an N-terminal cytochrome b5-like domain, which is a common structural feature in a subset of desaturases from plants, animals, and yeast.