This result indicates that when the alga is in the dark, ferredoxin - 5 specifically donates electrons to enzymes that specialize in
desaturating fatty acids; it may also donate electrons to other processes in the dark.
It is
desaturated by the action of a
desaturating enzyme, delta - 6 desaturase (D6D), resulting in an 18 - carbon, triple - unsaturated
fatty acid called gamma - linolenic acid, GLA.