The enzyme encoded by this gene is a multifunctional
protein. Its main function is to catalyze the synthesis of
palmitate from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, in the presence of
NADPH, into long-chain saturated fatty acids. In some cancer cell
lines, this protein has been found to be fused with estrogen
receptor-alpha (ER-alpha), in which the N-terminus of FAS is fused
in-frame with the C-terminus of ER-alpha.
