Showing papers on "Acyl-CoA published in 2009"

Mammalian fatty acid elongases.

Abstract: Very long chain fatty acids confer functional diversity on cells by variations in their chain length and degree of unsaturation. Microsomal fatty acid elongation represents the major pathway for determining the chain length of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in cellular lipids. The overall reaction for fatty acid elongation involves four enzymes and utilizes malonyl CoA, NADPH, and fatty acyl CoA as substrates. While the fundamental pathway and its requirements have been known for many years, recent advances have revealed a family of enzymes involved in the first step of the reaction, i.e., the condensation reaction. Seven fatty acid elongase subtypes (Elovl #1-7) have been identified in the mouse, rat, and human genomes. These enzymes determine the rate of overall fatty acid elongation. Moreover, these enzymes also display differential substrate specificity, tissue distribution, and regulation, making them important regulators of cellular lipid composition as well as specific cellular functions. Herein, methods are described to measure elongase activity, analyze elongation products, and alter cellular elongase expression.

A 10-kDa acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) from Brassica napus enhances acyl exchange between acyl-CoA and phosphatidylcholine.

Abstract: Summary The gene encoding a 10-kDa acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) from Brassica napus was over-expressed in developing seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana. Biochemical analysis of T2 and T3 A. thaliana seeds revealed a significant increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) (18:2cisΔ9,12 and 18:3cisΔ9,12,15) at the expense of very long monounsaturated FA (20:1cisΔ11) and saturated FAs. In vitro assays demonstrated that recombinant B. napus ACBP (rBnACBP) strongly increases the formation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the absence of added lysophosphatidylcholine in microsomes from ΔYOR175c yeast expressing A. thaliana lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (AthLPCAT) cDNA or in microsomes from microspore-derived cell suspension cultures of B. napus L. cv. Jet Neuf. rBnACBP or bovine serum albumin (BSA) were also shown to be crucial for AthLPCAT to catalyse the transfer of acyl group from PC into acyl-CoA in vitro. These data suggest that the cytosolic 10-kDa ACBP has an effect on the equilibrium between metabolically active acyl pools (acyl-CoA and phospholipid pools) involved in FA modifications and triacylglycerol bioassembly in plants. Over-expression of ACBP during seed development may represent a useful biotechnological approach for altering the FA composition of seed oil.

Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 1 Inhibition Lowers Serum Triglycerides in the Zucker Fatty Rat and the Hyperlipidemic Hamster

Abstract: Acyl CoA/diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) 1 is one of two known DGAT enzymes that catalyze the final and only committed step in triglyceride biosynthesis. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that chronic inhibition of DGAT-1 with a small-molecule inhibitor will reduce serum triglyceride concentrations in both genetic and diet-induced models of hypertriglyceridemia. Zucker fatty rats and diet-induced dyslipidemic hamsters were dosed orally with A-922500 (0.03, 0.3, and 3-mg/kg), a potent and selective DGAT-1 inhibitor, for 14 days. Serum triglycerides were significantly reduced by the 3 mg/kg dose of the DGAT-1 inhibitor in both the Zucker fatty rat (39%) and hyperlipidemic hamster (53%). These serum triglyceride changes were accompanied by significant reductions in free fatty acid levels by 32% in the Zucker fatty rat and 55% in the hyperlipidemic hamster. In addition, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was significantly increased (25%) in the Zucker fatty rat by A-922500 administered at 3 mg/kg. This study provides the first report that inhibition of DGAT-1, the final and only committed step of triglyceride synthesis, with a selective small-molecule inhibitor, significantly reduces serum triglyceride levels in both genetic and diet-induced animal models of hypertriglyceridemia. The results of this study support further investigation of DGAT-1 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia in humans, and they suggest that inhibition of triglyceride synthesis may have more diverse beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles beyond triglyceride lowering.

Carnitine and type 2 diabetes.

Abstract: Studies in humans and animals demonstrate that "lipid over supply" causes or worsens insulin resistance via multiple mechanisms involving the accumulation of intracellular lipids in multiple tissues. In particular, the accumulation of fatty acyl CoA derivatives/metabolites in muscle inhibits both insulin signaling and glucose oxidation. Therefore agents that ameliorate the accumulation of fatty acyl CoA derivatives and/or their metabolites would be beneficial in the treatment or prevention of insulin resistance and T2D. Hyperinsulemic/euglycemic clamp studies in humans and carnitine supplementation studies in rodents provide "proof-of-concept" that carnitine is effective at improving insulin-stimulated glucose utilization and in reversing abnormalities of fuel metabolism associated with T2D. Carefully controlled clinical trials are warranted to determine the efficacy dietary carnitine supplementation as an adjunctive treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Rate-limiting steps of carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism in ischemic hearts.

Abstract: Control of glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation in ischemic myocardium was studied in isolated working rat hearts. Coronary flow was reduced to the whole heart. In ischemic tissue, oxygen consumption, glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation all decreased in proportion to the restriction in coronary flow. Inhibition of glycolysis developed at the level of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Restricted flux through this step appeared to result from accumulation of lactate, H+ and NADH. The rate of glycolysis was inversely related to accumulation of lactate. Additions of high levels of lactate to the perfusate inhibited glycolysis in aerobic, anoxic and ischemic hearts. The mechanism of this effect of lactate in anaerobic hearts is unknown, but does not appear to be related to pH changes. Oxidation of fatty acids was restricted at the level of beta-oxidation and high levels of both long-chain acyl CoA and carnitine derivatives accumulated.

Cloning and molecular characterization of the acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) gene from Echium.

Abstract: Boraginaceae species, such as those from the genus Echium, contain high levels of the Δ6-desaturated γ-linolenic (18:3n-6) and octadecatetraenoic (18:4n-3) acids. These are unusual fatty acids among the plant kingdom that are gaining interest due to their benefits to human health. The potential utility of acyltransferases aimed at an increase in oil yield and fatty acid profiling has been reported. In this work, a gene encoding an acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT, EC 2.3.1.20) was cloned from Echium pitardii. Genomic and cDNA sequences obtained revealed a gene structure composed of 16 exons, yielding a protein (EpDGAT) of 473 amino acids with high similarity to DGAT1 enzymes of plants. Protein features such as a predicted structure with a highly hydrophilic N-terminus followed by 10 transmembrane domains, as well as the presence of diverse specific signatures, also indicate that EpDGAT belongs to the DGAT1 family. indeed. DGAT activity of the protein encoded by EpDGAT was confirmed by heterologous expression of the full-length cDNA in a yeast mutant (H1246) defective in the synthesis of triacylglycerols. Fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerols synthesized by EpDGAT in H1246 yeast cultures supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids suggest a substrate preference for the trienoic fatty acids α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) and γ-linolenic acid over the dienoic linoleic acid (18:2n-6). Site-directed mutagenesis has revealed the presence of a critical residue (P178 in EpDGAT) within a reported thiolase signature for binding of acyl-enzyme intermediates that might be involved in the active site of the enzyme. Transcript analysis for EpDGAT shows an ubiquitous expression of the gene which is increased in leaves during senescence.

Involvement of L-carnitine in cellular metabolism: beyond Acyl-CoA transport.

Abstract: Carnitine is well-known for its role in the transport of fatty acids to the mitochondrial matrix, where beta-oxidation takes place. This work describes novel functions for this compound and novel data on its pharmacokinetics.

Cloning and Molecular Characterization of the Acyl-CoA: Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) Gene from Echium

Abstract: Boraginaceae species, such as those from the genus Echium, contain high levels of the D 6 -desaturated c-linolenic (18:3n-6) and octadecatetraenoic (18:4n-3) acids. These are unusual fatty acids among the plant kingdom that are gaining interest due to their benefits to human health. The potential utility of acyltransferases aimed at an increase in oil yield and fatty acid profiling has been reported. In this work, a gene encoding an acyl- CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT, EC 2.3.1.20) was cloned from Echium pitardii. Genomic and cDNA sequences obtained revealed a gene structure composed of 16 exons, yielding a protein (EpDGAT) of 473 amino acids with high similarity to DGAT1 enzymes of plants. Protein features such as a predicted structure with a highly hydrophilic N-terminus followed by 10 transmembrane domains, as well as the presence of diverse specific sig- natures, also indicate that EpDGAT belongs to the DGAT1 family. indeed. DGAT activity of the protein encoded by EpDGAT was confirmed by heterologous expression of the full-length cDNA in a yeast mutant (H1246) defective in the synthesis of triacylglycerols. Fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerols synthesized by EpDGAT in H1246 yeast cultures supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids suggest a substrate preference for the trienoic fatty acids a-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) and c-linolenic acid over the dienoic linoleic acid (18:2n-6). Site-directed mutagen- esis has revealed the presence of a critical residue (P 178 in EpDGAT) within a reported thiolase signature for binding of acyl-enzyme intermediates that might be involved in the active site of the enzyme. Transcript analysis for EpDGAT shows an ubiquitous expression of the gene which is increased in leaves during senescence.