Acyl-CoA

About: Acyl-CoA is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 527 publications have been published within this topic receiving 25134 citations. The topic is also known as: Acyl Coenzyme A.

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases and fatty acid channeling

Abstract: Thirteen homologous proteins comprise the long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL), fatty acid transport protein (FATP), and bubblegum (ACSBG) subfamilies that activate long-chain and very-long-chain fatty acids to form acyl-CoAs. Gain- and loss-of-function studies show marked differences in the ability of these enzymes to channel fatty acids into different pathways of complex lipid synthesis. Furthermore, the ability of the ACSLs and FATPs to enhance cellular FA uptake does not always require these proteins to be present on the plasma membrane; instead, fatty acid uptake can be increased by enhancing its conversion to acyl-CoA and its metabolism in downstream pathways. Since altered fatty acid metabolism is a hallmark of numerous metabolic diseases and pathological conditions, the ACSL, FATP and ACSBG isoforms are likely to play important roles in disease etiology.

Carnitine deficiency disorders in children.

Abstract: Mitochondrial oxidation of long-chain fatty acids provides an important source of energy for the heart as well as for skeletal muscle during prolonged aerobic work and for hepatic ketogenesis during long-term fasting. The carnitine shuttle is responsible for transferring long-chain fatty acids across the barrier of the inner mitochondrial membrane to gain access to the enzymes of beta-oxidation. The shuttle consists of three enzymes (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, carnitine acylcarnitine translocase, carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 2) and a small, soluble molecule, carnitine, to transport fatty acids as their long-chain fatty acylcarnitine esters. Carnitine is provided in the diet (animal protein) and also synthesized at low rates from trimethyl-lysine residues generated during protein catabolism. Carnitine turnover rates (300-500 micromol/day) are <1% of body stores; 98% of carnitine stores are intracellular (total carnitine levels are 40-50 microM in plasma vs. 2-3 mM in tissue). Carnitine is removed by urinary excretion after reabsorption of 98% of the filtered load; the renal carnitine threshold determines plasma concentrations and total body carnitine stores. Because of its key role in fatty acid oxidation, there has long been interest in the possibility that carnitine might be of benefit in genetic or acquired disorders of energy production to improve fatty acid oxidation, to remove accumulated toxic fatty acyl-CoA metabolites, or to restore the balance between free and acyl-CoA. Two disorders have been described in children where the supply of carnitine becomes limiting for fatty acid oxidation: (1) A recessive defect of the muscle/kidney sodium-dependent, plasma membrane carnitine symporter, which presents in infancy with cardiomyopathy or hypoketotic hypoglycemia; treatment with oral carnitine is required for survival. (2) Chronic administration of pivalate-conjugated antibiotics in which excretion of pivaloyl-carnitine can lead to carnitine depletion; tissue levels may become low enough to limit fatty acid oxidation, although no cases of illness due to carnitine deficiency have been described. There is speculation that carnitine supplements might be beneficial in other settings (such as genetic acyl-CoA oxidation defects--"secondary carnitine deficiency", chronic ischemia, hyperalimentation, nutritional carnitine deficiency), but efficacy has not been documented. The formation of abnormal acylcarnitines has been helpful in expanded newborn screening programs using tandem mass-spectrometry of blood spot acylcarnitine profiles to detect genetic fatty acid oxidation defects in neonates. Carnitine-deficient diets (vegetarian) do not have much effect on carnitine pools in adults. A modest 50% reduction in carnitine levels is associated with hyperalimentation in newborn infants, but is of doubtful significance. The above considerations indicate that carnitine does not become rate-limiting unless extremely low; testing the benefits of nutritional supplements may require invasive endurance studies of fasting ketogenesis or muscle and cardiovascular work.

The human peroxisomal ABC half transporter ALDP functions as a homodimer and accepts acyl-CoA esters

Abstract: Peroxisomes play a major role in human cellular lipid metabolism, including the β-oxidation of fatty acids. The most frequent peroxisomal disorder is X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), which is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene. The protein involved, called ABCD1, or alternatively ALDP, is a member of the ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) transporter family and is located in the peroxisomal membrane. The biochemical hallmark of X-ALD is the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), due to an impaired peroxisomal β-oxidation. Although this suggests a role of ALDP in VLCFA import, no experimental evidence is available to substantiate this. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, peroxisomes are the exclusive site of fatty acid β-oxidation. Earlier work has shown that uptake of fatty acids into peroxisomes may occur via two routes, either as free fatty acids thus requiring intraperoxisomal activation into acyl-CoA esters or as long-chain acyl-CoA esters. The latter route involves the two peroxiso...