Small-angle X-ray-scattering investigation and structural-model study of the fatty-acid synthetase from pig liver

The structure of the fatty acid synthetase from pig liver was studied on models based upon structural and functional properties selected from pertinent results available from numerous investigations carried out with fatty acid synthetase from this and other sources. When comparing small-angle X-ray-scattering curves calculated with these models and curves obtained from small-angle X-ray-scattering experiments carried out with the pig-liver enzyme, we tried to select a model which would lead to an acceptable correlation between the calculated and the experimental curves and at the same time fulfil the known structural and the functional requirements. The comparison of the curves was started with a model of low complexity. The observed discrepancy, together with arguments from the structural and the functional properties, helped decide which is the next most reasonable model to be considered. This procedure was repeated for five models of increasing complexity. In the model which led to the best fit the multienzyme complex is composed of two halves in an asymmetric conformation including hollow spaces. This highly anisotropic model would imply that the two halves change their conformation each time a synthetic cycle is completed and that the growing fatty acid is handed over from one half to the other. (orig.)