Elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 3 (ELOVL3)

ELOVL3 is an integral membrane enzyme of the endoplasmic reticulum that catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in the elongation of saturated and monounsaturated long-chain fatty acids into very long chain fatty acids, specifically with high activity toward C18 acyl-CoAs. These VLCFAs are essential precursors for membrane lipids such as sphingolipids and ceramides. ELOVL3 is highly expressed in brown adipose tissue and its transcription is upregulated by stimuli that promote fatty acid oxidation, such as norepinephrine and glucocorticoids, especially during cold exposure and metabolic adaptation. It is functionally involved in several cellular pathways and has been associated with disease processes including certain forms of cancer and metabolic disorders. There is significant interest in ELOVL3 as a potential therapeutic target for modulating lipid metabolism and related pathologies, although there are currently no approved drugs against this enzyme, and safety risks are related to the disruption of physiological lipid homeostasis.

Other names

Very long chain fatty acid elongase 3CIG30ELOVL FA elongase 3CIG-303-keto acyl-CoA synthase ELOVL3Cold-inducible glycoprotein of 30 kDaVery long chain 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase 3Very long chain 3-oxoacyl-CoA synthase 3elongation of very long chain fatty acids (FEN1/Elo2, SUR4/Elo3, yeast)-like 3Elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 3

Potential mechanisms could include inhibition or modulation of fatty acid elongation enzyme activity, leading to altered membrane lipid composition and function, but no specific clinical drugs are documented.