Solute carrier family 27 member 5 (SLC27A5)

Solute carrier family 27 member 5 (SLC27A5), also known as Fatty acid transport protein 5 (FATP5), is a liver-specific transporter and acyl-CoA synthetase enzyme involved in the uptake and intracellular trafficking of long-chain and very long-chain fatty acids, and the conjugation of bile acids with glycine and taurine through its CoA ligase function. It is primarily expressed in the liver, localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, and is essential for normal bile acid metabolism, promoting fat absorption and homeostasis. Genetic variants and reduced expression of SLC27A5 are associated with metabolic disorders (e.g., insulin resistance, NAFLD, type 2 diabetes), defects in bile acid conjugation, and liver diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma, where it appears to play a tumor suppressor role. Loss or dysfunction may lead to metabolic disturbances, fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies, or heightened susceptibility to liver injury and fibrosis. In cancer, SLC27A5/FATP5 suppresses tumor progression partly by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and regulating AMPK/mTOR signaling.

Other names

Long-chain fatty acid transport protein 5FATP5Acyl-CoA synthetase bubblegum B (ACSB)Acyl-CoA synthetase very long chain 6 (ACSVL6)Bile acid-CoA ligase (BACS)BA-CoA ligaseBile acyl-CoA synthetaseCholate-CoA ligaseVery long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase homolog 2 (VLCS-H2)Fatty acid transport protein 5Very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase-related protein (VLACSR)FACVL3FATP-5FLJ22987VLCSH2BAL

Modulation of fatty acid transport and metabolism; Conjugation of bile acids through CoA ligase activity; Indirect modulation of metabolic and cancer pathways (e.g., AMPK-mTOR axis by metformin)