Which enzyme is required for moving the double bond in monounsaturated fatty acids during beta-oxidation?

During beta-oxidation of fatty acids, the metabolic process involves the breakdown of fatty acids into acetyl-CoA units. In the case of monounsaturated fatty acids, which contain a single double bond, one important step involves rearranging that double bond to allow for efficient β-oxidation.

The enzyme responsible for this rearranging is isomerase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the cis double bond present in monounsaturated fatty acids into a trans double bond, which is necessary for the subsequent steps of the beta-oxidation pathway. Specifically, this conversion enables the fatty acyl-CoA to be properly processed by the enzymes involved in the following rounds of beta-oxidation, which require a trans double bond configuration for optimal function.

The role of isomerase is crucial because beta-oxidation requires that the fatty acyl-CoA be in the right conformation for it to undergo oxidation and subsequent cleavage. Therefore, the function of isomerase in moving the double bond is vital for the metabolism of monounsaturated fatty acids.