Scheme 2.

Overview of individual reactions catalyzed by the LuxCDE fatty acid reductase complex. Intermediate species covalently linked to individual enzymes are shown in brackets beneath the corresponding reaction steps. The reaction cascade is initiated by the myristoyl transferase LuxD via unloading of myristic acid (R = (CH₂)₁₂CH₃) bound to the acyl carrier protein (ACP). Covalently linked to Ser114 (Vibrio harveyi numbering) the acyl moiety is transported to the LuxCE complex and released as the free fatty acid that interacts with the LuxE synthetase. At the expense of ATP the fatty acid is activated by LuxE to acyl-AMP and in a second step covalently attached to Cys362. This intermediate is then channeled directly to the active site of the LuxC reductase, where it is initially transferred to Cys286 of LuxC. The latter intermediate is then reduced by NADPH resulting in aldehyde formation and dissociation of the product. Details of the individual processes are provided in the section -The fatty acid reductase complex (luxCDE).