Gracilaria tenuistipitata var. liui 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase 3, commonly known as FabH, is a condensing enzyme that initiates fatty acid biosynthesis in bacteria. It is involved in the type II fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis pathway, which is responsible for synthesizing fatty acids . FabH produces acetoacetyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP), which is a precursor for the elongation cycle where two carbons are added to the acyl-ACP intermediate until the fatty acid reaches the appropriate length .
The following table summarizes the changes in fatty acid composition observed in fabH mutants:
| Fatty Acid | Change in fabH Mutants |
|---|---|
| Unsaturated FA | Increase |
| C16:0 | Decrease |
| C18:1ω7c | Increase |
| C16:1ω7c | Decrease |
Genetic analysis of Gracilaria tenuistipitata var. liui has revealed genetic variation among different geographical locations . Microsatellite markers and cox1 gene analysis have been used to identify different haplotypes and clades within this species .
| Collection Site | Haplotype |
|---|---|
| Ubin Island, Singapore | T1 |
| Lim Chu Kang, Singapore | T1 |
| Pasir Ris Park, Singapore | T1 |
| Batu Laut, Selangor, Malaysia | T1 |