= Applegate mechanism
{wiki=Applegate_mechanism}
The Applegate mechanism refers to a specific molecular mechanism involved in the desaturation of fatty acids, particularly in the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in certain organisms, such as plants and some microorganisms. In a broader biochemical context, it involves the conversion of saturated fatty acids into unsaturated ones through the introduction of double bonds in the fatty acid chain. This process is essential for the production of various lipids that serve important roles in cell membrane structure and function, energy storage, and signaling.
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