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Synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids through the n-3 and n-6 pathways. Polyunsaturated fatty acid elongation from ALA and LA begins with desaturation by the D6D enzyme. Subsequent elongation and desaturation by the corresponding enzymes (orange) generates longer chain PUFA such as AA and EPA. n-3 and n-6 PUFA compete for the D6D, E5, D5D and E2 enzymes [11,12,13,14,15]. D5D: Delta 5 desaturase; D6D: Delta 6 desaturase; E: Elongase.*: Rate limiting step.
