Fatty acid elongation occurs in three cellular compartments: the cytosol, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum (microsomes). In the cytosol, fatty acid elongation is part of de novo lipogenesis and involves acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase. Fatty acid synthases utilize acetyl CoA and malonyl CoA to elongate fatty acids by two carbons. The primary end product of de novo lipogenesis is palmitate ( 16:0 ) and to a lesser extent myristate ( 14:0 ) and stearate ( 18:0 ). (Adapted from
PMID:19763486.)
