Can function as a Delta(6) fatty acid desaturase. Introduces a double bond in the fatty acid chain 6 carbons away from carboxy terminal to biosynthesize polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) endogenously (PUFAs are essential for membrane structure and many cellular and physiological processes). Acts on a variety of substrates such as linoleoyl-CoA ((9Z,12Z)-octadecadienoyl-CoA, C18:2n-6) and alpha-linolenoyl-CoA ((9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatrienoyl-CoA, C18:3n-3) to produce gamma-linolenoyl-CoA ((6Z,9Z,12Z)-octadecatrienoyl-CoA, C18:3n-6) and (6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatetraenoyl-CoA (18:4n-3) respectively. Unlike plants, Caenorhabditis elegans desaturases seem to use fatty acyl-CoAs as substrates. Plays a role in synaptic vesicle recycling by regulating synaptojanin unc-26 localization at synapses.
