Table 1.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), Delta-5-desaturase (D5D) and Delta-6-desaturase (D6D) with purpose, precursor, product and estimated desaturase activity

Desaturase enzyme name	Purpose	Precursor	Product	Estimated desaturase activity
SCD1	Desaturation of monounsaturated fatty acids from saturated fatty acids
SCD16		C16:0 (palmitic acid)	C16:1n7 (palmitoleic acid)	16:1n7/16:0
SCD18		C18:0 (stearic acid)	C18:1n9 (oleic acid)	18:1n9/18:0
D6D	Desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)	C18:2n6 (linoleic acid)	C18:3n6 (γ-linolenic acid)	18:3n6/18:2n6
D5D	Desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)	C20:3n6 (dihomo-γ-linolenic acid)	C20:4n6 (arachidonic acid)	20:4n6/20:3n6