3-Oxoacyl Acyl Carrier Protein Synthase, Mitochondrial (OXSM)

OXSM is a mitochondrial beta-ketoacyl synthase (EC 2.3.1.41) involved in mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis. It is required for catalysis of the chain-elongating condensation reaction.

The deduced 459-amino acid protein has a predicted molecular mass of 45.8 kD that was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. It contains an N-terminal 38-amino acid sequence that functions as a mitochondrial targeting signal as well as other conserved sequences including a cysteine nucleophile, two catalytic histidine residues, and a C-terminal glycine-rich motif. Northern blot analysis detected highest expression in heart, skeletal muscle, liver, and kidney, with lower levels in placenta, brain, spleen, and lung. Little or no expression was detected in colon, thymus, and leukocytes.