Proposed pathway to synthesis of cis,cis-diunsaturated meroacid precursors and α-meroacid. In this illustration, the initial substrates for the FAS-II system are eicosanoyl-S-CoA (derived from FAS-I) and malonyl-S-ACP (derived from malonyl-S-CoA by FabD). Enzymes involved in these reactions are as follows: 1, β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase-III; 6, β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase (Kas); 2 and 7, β-ketoacyl-ACP reductase; 3 and 8, β-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydrase; 4 and 9, 2-trans-enoyl-ACP isomerase; 5 and 10, elongation (e) by multiple FAS-II modules; 11, cyclopropane synthase (cp). The FAS-IIA and FAS-IIB modules are identified in the pathway. t and c, trans and cis isomers, respectively. For the synthesis of α-meroacid, x = 10 and y = 17; for the synthesis of methoxy-meroacid, x = 16 and y = 17; for the synthesis of keto-meroacid, x = 16 and y = 19.