Metabolic enzymes in fatty acid synthesis and oxidation pathways (FAS/FAO enzymes)

Metabolic enzymes in fatty acid synthesis and oxidation pathways represent a collective group of proteins that maintain lipid homeostasis by balancing the production and breakdown of fatty acids. Key enzymes in the synthesis (lipogenesis) pathway include ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and Fatty acid synthase (FASN), which catalyze the conversion of acetyl-CoA into long-chain fatty acids like palmitate [1][2]. Conversely, the fatty acid oxidation (FAO) pathway, or beta-oxidation, is regulated by enzymes such as Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) and various acyl-CoA dehydrogenases, which facilitate the entry and breakdown of fats within the mitochondria for ATP production [3]. Dysregulation of these pathways is central to the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and obesity, as well as many cancers that rely on de novo lipogenesis for membrane synthesis and signaling [4][5]. Therapeutic strategies often involve inhibiting synthesis enzymes to starve cancer cells or reduce hepatic fat, or modulating oxidation enzymes to improve metabolic efficiency [6]. Sources: [1] UniProt (P49327); [2] PubMed (PMID: 30104444); [3] StatPearls (Fatty Acid Oxidation); [4] NIH/NCI (Lipid Metabolism in Cancer); [5] PubMed (PMID: 31439441); [6] ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03129139).

Other names

Fatty acid metabolism enzymesLipid metabolism enzymesDe novo lipogenesis and beta-oxidation enzymesFatty acid synthesis and degradation enzymes

Inhibition of rate-limiting enzymes in de novo lipogenesis (e.g., ACC, FASN) to reduce lipid accumulation or tumor growth, and modulation of mitochondrial fatty acid transport (e.g., CPT1) to regulate beta-oxidation rates.