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. 2020 Jul 31;9:e58619. doi: 10.7554/eLife.58619

Figure 9. Model for malonyl-CoA transfer from soma to germline.

Figure 9.

Enzymes (blue) implicated in germline FAS. Malonyl-CoA transits from somatic sheath to germline through gap junction channels comprised of INX-8/9 (soma) and INX-14/INX-21 (germline) hemichannels. Germline FASN-1 uses malonyl-CoA to synthesize palmitate, which may be further extended and modified to produce other long-chain fatty acids. EMB-8 (NADPH-dependent CYP450 reductase) and POD-7/8 (CYP450s) are necessary to synthesize the lipid-rich (inner) layer of the eggshell and support polarity establishment (Rappleye et al., 2003; Benenati et al., 2009); the composition of lipid layer fatty acids is unknown. de novo PUFA synthesis is required in the germline for embryonic viability and is implicated in sperm guidance (Kubagawa et al., 2006; Watts et al., 2018). The identities of other long-chain fatty acids that may be synthesized in the germline are unknown. PUFAs, polyunsaturated fatty acids; LFAs, long-chain fatty acids; MUFA, monounsaturated fatty acids; pm, plasma membrane.