Fatty acid synthetase catalyzes the formation of long-chain fatty acids from acetyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA and NADPH. The alpha subunit contains domains for: acyl carrier protein, 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase, and 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase. acetyl-CoA + 2n H(+) + n malonyl-CoA + 2n NADPH = a long-chain fatty acyl-CoA + n CO2 + n CoA + H2O + 2n NADP(+) a fatty acyl-[ACP] + H(+) + malonyl-[ACP] = a 3-oxoacyl-[ACP] + CO2 + holo-[ACP] a (3R)-hydroxyacyl-[ACP] + NADP(+) = a 3-oxoacyl-[ACP] + H(+) + NADPH Fatty acid synthase is composed of alpha and beta subunits. Expression significantly elevated by the presence of glucose. Down-regulated by unsaturated fatty acids oleic acid and Tween 80. Up-regulated during in vitro biofilm formation and hypoxic conditions. Essential for growth in fatty acid-free medium, but dispensable in medium with fatty acids. The growth in the presence of fatty acid depends on the type. Able to grow in a concentration-dependent manner in the presence of myristic acid, palmitic acid, or Tween 80 as the fatty acid sources, but unable to grow in the presence of unsaturated fatty like acids stearic acid or oleic acid. Intracellular survival in the murine macrophage line J774.16 is significantly reduced compared to wild type or heterozygous fungal cells. Required for systemic infection in mice. Impaired in its capacity to form biofilms on polysterene and silicone surfaces. It can potentially be a fungicidal target. Inhibition of FAS2 by cerulenin impeds the growth of wild-type and heterozygous strains (PubMed:20027295). Belongs to the thiolase-like superfamily. Fungal fatty acid synthetase subunit alpha family.