ACSL Activity Research Articles

The Diagnostic Value of ACSL1, ACSL4, and ACSL5 and the Clinical Potential of an ACSL Inhibitor in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Abnormal expression of ACSL members 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 is frequently seen in human cancer; however, their clinical relevance is unclear. In this study, we analyzed the expression of ACSLs and investigated the effects of the ACSL inhibitor Triacsin C (TC) in lung cancer. We found that, compared to normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells, ACSL1, ACSL4, and ACSL6 were highly expressed, while ACSL3 and ACSL5 were lost in the majority of lung cancer cell lines. ACSL activity was associated with the expression levels of the ACSLs. In primary lung tumors, a higher expression of ACSL1, ACSL4, and ACSL5 was significantly correlated with adenocarcinoma (ADC). Moreover, ACSL5 was significantly reversely related to the proliferation marker Ki67 in low-grade tumors, while ACSL3 was positively associated with Ki67 in high-grade tumors. Combination therapy with TC and Gemcitabine enhanced the growth-inhibitory effect in EGFR wild-type cells, while TC combined with EGFR-TKIs sensitized the EGFR-mutant cells to EGFR-TKI treatment. Taken together, the data suggest that ACSL1 may be a biomarker for lung ADC, and ACSL1, ACSL4, and ACSL5 may be involved in lung cancer differentiation, and TC, in combination with chemotherapy or EGFR-TKIs, may help patients overcome drug resistance.

Intestinal Acyl-CoA synthetase 5 (ACSL5) deficiency potentiates postprandial GLP-1 & PYY secretion, reduces food intake, and protects against diet-induced obesity

ObjectiveIn the small intestine, the products of digestion of dietary triacylglycerol (TAG), fatty acids (FA) and monoacylglycerol, are taken up by absorptive cells, enterocytes, for systemic energy delivery. These digestion products can also bind receptors on endocrine cells to stimulate the release of hormones capable of influencing systemic energy metabolism. The initial phase of intestinal FA absorption involves the acylation of FAs to acyl-CoA by the acyl-CoA long chain synthetase (ACSL) enzymes. ACSL5 is abundantly expressed in the small intestinal epithelium where it is the major ACSL isoform, contributing approximately 80% of total ACSL activity. In mice with whole body deficiency of ACSL5, the rate of dietary fat absorption is reduced and energy expenditure is increased. However, the mechanisms by which intestinal ACSL5 contributes to intestinal FA metabolism, enteroendocrine signaling, and regulation of energy expenditure remain undefined. Here, we test the hypothesis that intestinal ACSL5 regulates energy metabolism by influencing dietary fat absorption and enteroendocrine signaling. MethodsTo explore the role of intestinal ACSL5 in energy balance and intestinal dietary fat absorption, a novel mouse model of intestine specific ACSL5 deficiency (ACSL5IKO) was generated by breeding ACSL5 floxed (ACSL5loxP/loxP) to mice harboring the tamoxifen inducible, villin-Cre recombinase. ACSL5IKO and control, ACSL5loxP/loxP mice were fed chow (low in fat) or a 60% high fat diet (HFD), and metabolic phenotyping was performed including, body weight, body composition, insulin and glucose tolerance tests, energy expenditure, physical activity, and food intake studies. Pair-feeding studies were performed to determine the role of food intake in regulating development of obesity. Studies of dietary fat absorption, fecal lipid excretion, intestinal mucosal FA content, and circulating levels of glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) in response to a TAG challenge were performed. Treatment with a GLP-1 receptor antagonist was performed to determine the contribution of GLP-1 to acute regulation of food intake. ResultsWe found that ACSL5IKO mice experienced rapid and sustained protection from body weight and fat mass accumulation during HFD feeding. While intestine specific deficiency of ACSL5 delayed gastric emptying and reduced dietary fat secretion, it did not result in increased excretion of dietary lipid in feces. Energy expenditure and physical activity were not increased in ACSL5IKO mice. Mice deficient in intestinal ACSL5 display significantly reduced energy intake during HFD, but not chow feeding. When HFD intake of control mice was matched to ACSL5IKO during pair-feeding studies, no differences in body weight or fat mass gain were observed between groups. Postprandial GLP-1 and PYY were significantly elevated in ACSL5IKO mice secondary to increased FA content in the distal small intestine. Blockade of GLP-1 signaling by administration of a long-acting GLP-1 receptor antagonist partially restored HFD intake of ACSL5IKO. ConclusionsThese data indicate that intestinal ACSL5 serves as a critical regulator of energy balance, protecting mice from diet-induced obesity exclusively by increasing satiety and reducing food intake during HFD feeding. The reduction in food intake observed in ACSL5IKO mice is driven, in part, by increased postprandial GLP-1 and PYY secretion. These effects are only observed during HFD feeding, suggesting that altered processing of dietary fat following intestinal ACSL5 ablation contributes to GLP-1 and PYY mediated increases in satiety.

Synthesis and maintenance of lipid droplets are essential for mouse preimplantation embryonic development.

Lipid droplets (LDs), which are ubiquitous organelles consisting of a neutral lipid core coated with a phospholipid monolayer, play key roles in the regulation of cellular lipid metabolism. Although it is well known that mammalian oocytes and embryos contain LDs and that the amount of LDs varies among animal species, their physiological functions remain unclear. In this study, we have developed a method based on two-step centrifugation for efficient removal of almost all LDs from mouse MII oocytes (delipidation). We found that delipidated MII oocytes could be fertilized in vitro, and developed normally to the blastocyst stage even when the embryos were cultured in the absence of a fatty acid supply. LDs were newly synthesized and accumulated soon after delipidation, but chemical inhibition of long chain acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSLs) blocked this process, resulting in severe impairment of early embryonic development. Furthermore, we found that overabundance of LDs is detrimental to early embryonic development. Our findings demonstrate the importance of synthesis and maintenance of LDs, mediated in part by ACSL activity, during preimplantation embryonic development.

Cytokine‐stimulated iNOS Expression Requires Long Chain Fatty Acyl CoA Synthetase (ACSL)

RationaleACSL catalyzes the ligation of fatty acid to coenzyme A, the first and rate limiting step for fatty acid utilization. Triacsin C is a fungal metabolite which inhibits ACSL1, ACSL3, and ACSL4. Earlier, we showed that Triacsin C reduces the infarct volume and inhibits iNOS expression in the MCAO model of stroke. As iNOS is up‐regulated in stroke, we wished to determine whether the Triacsin C effect was linked to iNOS expression.MethodsbEnd.3 cells were stimulated with cytokine mix, (TNFα, 60 ng/mL; Ilβ,2 ng/mL; IFNγ, 100 units/mL), in the presence or absence of 5μM Triacsin C for 24 hours. RNA was extracted following RNeasy Plus Mini Kit(Qiagaen) instruction. The concentration and purity of RNA was determined by Spectrophometer. 20 μl first strand cDNA was synthesized from 1 μg total RNA for each sample using Superscript III First‐Strand(Invitrogen). One μl cDNA was amplified using SYBR Green PCR Master Mix (applied Biosystems) in CFX96 Touch Real‐Time PCR Detection System (BioRad). β‐actin (cat 330001 PPM02945B) and iNOS (cat 330001PPM02928B) primers were purchased from Qiagen. Expression level in fold change was determined by the comparative threshold cycle method (2−ΔΔCt) with β‐actin as the control gene.ResultsCytomix stimulated iNOS expression in the presence of Triacsin C was 52.8 ± 8.33% of control. (p=0.0005; n=5 independent experiments).ConclusionsOur data confirm that iNOS expression is modulated by ACSL activity, and support our hypothesis that the Triacsin C effect on stroke infarct volume is related to suppression of iNOS expression.Support or Funding InformationDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TXThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Triacsin C reduces lipid droplet formation and induces mitochondrial biogenesis in primary rat hepatocytes.

Intracellular long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSL) activate fatty acids to produce acyl-CoA, which undergoes β-oxidation and participates in the synthesis of esterified lipids such as triacylglycerol (TAG). Imbalances in these metabolic routes are closely associated with the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Triacsin C is one of the few compounds that inhibit TAG accumulation into lipid droplets (LD) by suppressing ACSL activity. Here we report that treatment of primary rat hepatocytes with triacsin C at concentrations lower than the IC50 (4.1μM) for LD formation: (i) diminished LD number in a concentration-dependent manner; (ii) increased mitochondrial amount; (iii) markedly improved mitochondrial metabolism by enhancing the β-oxidation efficiency, electron transport chain capacity, and degree of coupling - treatment of isolated rat liver mitochondria with the same triacsin C concentrations did not affect the last two parameters; (iv) decreased the GSH/GSSG ratio and elevated the protein carbonyl level, which suggested an increased reactive oxygen species production, as observed in isolated mitochondria. The hepatocyte mitochondrial improvements were not related to either the transcriptional levels of PGC-1α or the content of mTOR and phosphorylated AMPK. Triacsin C at 10μM induced hepatocyte death by necrosis and/or apoptosis through mechanisms associated with mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, as demonstrated by experiments using isolated mitochondria. Therefore, triacsin C at sub-IC50 concentrations modulates the lipid imbalance by shifting hepatocytes to a more oxidative state and enhancing the fatty acid consumption, which can in turn accelerate lipid oxidation and reverse NAFLD in long-term therapies.

Chlamydia trachomatis growth and development requires the activity of host Long-chain Acyl-CoA Synthetases (ACSLs).

The obligate-intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) has undergone considerable genome reduction with consequent dependence on host biosynthetic pathways, metabolites and enzymes. Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSLs) are key host-cell enzymes that convert fatty acids (FA) into acyl-CoA for use in metabolic pathways. Here, we show that the complete host ACSL family [ACSL1 and ACSL3–6] translocates into the Ct membrane-bound vacuole, termed inclusion, and remains associated with membranes of metabolically active forms of Ct throughout development. We discovered that three different pharmacologic inhibitors of ACSL activity independently impede Ct growth in a dose-dependent fashion. Using an FA competition assay, host ACSLs were found to activate Ct branched-chain FAs, suggesting that one function of the ACSLs is to activate Ct FAs and host FAs (recruited from the cytoplasm) within the inclusion. Because the ACSL inhibitors can deplete lipid droplets (LD), we used a cell line where LD synthesis was switched off to evaluate whether LD deficiency affects Ct growth. In these cells, we found no effect on growth or on translocation of ACSLs into the inclusion. Our findings support an essential role for ACSL activation of host-cell and bacterial FAs within the inclusion to promote Ct growth and development, independent of LDs.

Acyl CoA synthetase 5 (ACSL5) ablation in mice increases energy expenditure and insulin sensitivity and delays fat absorption.

ObjectiveThe family of acyl-CoA synthetase enzymes (ACSL) activates fatty acids within cells to generate long chain fatty acyl CoA (FACoA). The differing metabolic fates of FACoAs such as incorporation into neutral lipids, phospholipids, and oxidation pathways are differentially regulated by the ACSL isoforms. In vitro studies have suggested a role for ACSL5 in triglyceride synthesis; however, we have limited understanding of the in vivo actions of this ACSL isoform.MethodsTo elucidate the in vivo actions of ACSL5 we generated a line of mice in which ACSL5 expression was ablated in all tissues (ACSL5−/−).ResultsAblation of ACSL5 reduced ACSL activity by ∼80% in jejunal mucosa, ∼50% in liver, and ∼37% in brown adipose tissue lysates. Body composition studies revealed that ACSL5−/−, as compared to control ACSL5loxP/loxP, mice had significantly reduced fat mass and adipose fat pad weights. Indirect calorimetry studies demonstrated that ACSL5−/− had increased metabolic rates, and in the dark phase, increased respiratory quotient. In ACSL5−/− mice, fasting glucose and serum triglyceride were reduced; and insulin sensitivity was improved during an insulin tolerance test. Both hepatic mRNA (∼16-fold) and serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) (∼13-fold) were increased in ACSL5−/− as compared to ACSL5loxP/loxP. Consistent with increased FGF21 serum levels, uncoupling protein-1 gene (Ucp1) and PPAR-gamma coactivator 1-alpha gene (Pgc1α) transcript levels were increased in gonadal adipose tissue. To further evaluate ACSL5 function in intestine, mice were gavaged with an olive oil bolus; and the rate of triglyceride appearance in serum was found to be delayed in ACSL5−/− mice as compared to control mice.ConclusionsIn summary, ACSL5−/− mice have increased hepatic and serum FGF21 levels, reduced adiposity, improved insulin sensitivity, increased energy expenditure and delayed triglyceride absorption. These studies suggest that ACSL5 is an important regulator of whole-body energy metabolism and ablation of ACSL5 may antagonize the development of obesity and insulin resistance.

Acyl-CoA synthetase 1 deficiency alters cardiolipin species and impairs mitochondrial function

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 1 (ACSL1) contributes more than 90% of total cardiac ACSL activity, but its role in phospholipid synthesis has not been determined. Mice with an inducible knockout of ACSL1 (Acsl1(T-/-)) have impaired cardiac fatty acid oxidation and rely on glucose for ATP production. Because ACSL1 exhibited a strong substrate preference for linoleate, we investigated the composition of heart phospholipids. Acsl1(T-/-) hearts contained 83% less tetralinoleoyl-cardiolipin (CL), the major form present in control hearts. A stable knockdown of ACSL1 in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes resulted in low incorporation of linoleate into CL and in diminished incorporation of palmitate and oleate into other phospholipids. Overexpression of ACSL1 in H9c2 and HEK-293 cells increased incorporation of linoleate into CL and other phospholipids. To determine whether increasing the content of linoleate in CL would improve mitochondrial respiratory function in Acsl1(T-/-) hearts, control and Acsl1(T-/-) mice were fed a high-linoleate diet; this diet normalized the amount of tetralinoleoyl-CL but did not improve respiratory function. Thus, ACSL1 is required for the normal composition of several phospholipid species in heart. Although ACSL1 determines the acyl-chain composition of heart CL, a high tetralinoleoyl-CL content may not be required for normal function.

Inhibition of long chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL) and ischemia reperfusion injury

Various triacsin C analogs, containing different alkenyl chains and carboxylic acid bioisoteres including 4-aminobenzoic acid, isothiazolidine dioxide, hydroxylamine, hydroxytriazene, and oxadiazolidine dione, were synthesized and their inhibitions of long chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL) were examined. Two methods, a cell-based assay of ACSL activity and an in situ [14C]-palmitate incorporation into extractable lipids were used to study the inhibition. Using an in vivo leukocyte recruitment inhibition protocol, the translocation of one or more cell adhesion molecules from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane on either the endothelium or leukocyte or both was inhibited by inhibitors 1, 9, and triacsin C. The results suggest that inhibition of ACSL may attenuate the vascular inflammatory component associated with ischemia reperfusion injury and lead to a decrease of infarct expansion.

Activity of Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Synthetase Is Required for Maintaining Meiotic Arrest in Xenopus laevis1

In most vertebrates, fully grown oocytes are arrested in meiotic prophase I and only resume the cell cycle upon external stimuli, such as hormones. The proper arrest and resumption of the meiotic cycle is critical for reproduction. A Galpha(S) signaling pathway essential for the arrest is conserved in organisms from Xenopus to mouse and human. A previous gene association study implicated that mutations of human ACSL6 may be related to premature ovarian failure. However, functional roles of ACSL6 in human infertility have yet to be reported. In the present study, we found that triacsin C, a potent and specific inhibitor for ACSL, triggers maturation in Xenopus and mouse oocytes in the absence of hormone, suggesting ACSL activity is required for the oocyte arrest. In Xenopus, acsl1b may fulfill a major role in the process, because inhibition of acsl1b by knocking down its RNA results in abnormal acceleration of oocyte maturation. Such abnormally matured eggs cannot support early embryonic development. Moreover, direct inhibition of protein palmitoylation, which lies downstream of ACSLs, also causes oocyte maturation. Furthermore, palmitoylation of Galpha(s), which is essential for its function, is inhibited when the ACSL activity is blocked by triacsin C in Xenopus. Thus, disruption of ACSL activity causes inhibition of the Galpha(s) signaling pathway in the oocytes, which may result in premature ovarian failure in human.

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 modulates prostaglandin E2 release from human arterial smooth muscle cells

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSLs) catalyze the thioesterification of long-chain FAs into their acyl-CoA derivatives. Purified ACSL4 is an arachidonic acid (20:4)-preferring ACSL isoform, and ACSL4 is therefore a probable regulator of lipid mediator production in intact cells. Eicosanoids play important roles in vascular homeostasis and disease, yet the role of ACSL4 in vascular cells is largely unknown. In the present study, the ACSL4 splice variant expressed in human arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was identified as variant 1. To investigate the function of ACSL4 in SMCs, ACSL4 variant 1 was overexpressed, knocked-down by small interfering RNA, or its enzymatic activity acutely inhibited in these cells. Overexpression of ACSL4 resulted in a markedly increased synthesis of arachidonoyl-CoA, increased 20:4 incorporation into phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and triacylglycerol, and reduced cellular levels of unesterified 20:4. Accordingly, secretion of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) was blunted in ACSL4-overexpressing SMCs compared with controls. Conversely, acute pharmacological inhibition of ACSL4 activity resulted in increased release of PGE₂. However, long-term downregulation of ACSL4 resulted in markedly reduced PGE₂ secretion. Thus, ACSL4 modulates PGE₂ release from human SMCs. ACSL4 may regulate a number of processes dependent on the release of arachidonic acid-derived lipid mediators in the arterial wall.

Mouse Cardiac Acyl Coenzyme A Synthetase 1 Deficiency Impairs Fatty Acid Oxidation and Induces Cardiac Hypertrophy

Long-chain acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) synthetase isoform 1 (ACSL1) catalyzes the synthesis of acyl-CoA from long-chain fatty acids and contributes the majority of cardiac long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase activity. To understand its functional role in the heart, we studied mice lacking ACSL1 globally (Acsl1(T-/-)) and mice lacking ACSL1 in heart ventricles (Acsl1(H-/-)) at different times. Compared to littermate controls, heart ventricular ACSL activity in Acsl1(T-/-) mice was reduced more than 90%, acyl-CoA content was 65% lower, and long-chain acyl-carnitine content was 80 to 90% lower. The rate of [(14)C]palmitate oxidation in both heart homogenate and mitochondria was 90% lower than in the controls, and the maximal rates of [(14)C]pyruvate and [(14)C]glucose oxidation were each 20% higher. The mitochondrial area was 54% greater than in the controls with twice as much mitochondrial DNA, and the mRNA abundance of Pgc1α and Errα increased by 100% and 41%, respectively. Compared to the controls, Acsl1(T-/-) and Acsl1(H-/-) hearts were hypertrophied, and the phosphorylation of S6 kinase, a target of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase, increased 5-fold. Our data suggest that ACSL1 is required to synthesize the acyl-CoAs that are oxidized by the heart, and that without ACSL1, diminished fatty acid (FA) oxidation and compensatory catabolism of glucose and amino acids lead to mTOR activation and cardiac hypertrophy without lipid accumulation or immediate cardiac dysfunction.

Phosphorylation and Acetylation of Acyl-Coa Synthetase- I

Long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 1 (ACSL1) contributes 50 to 90% of total ACSL activity in liver, adipose tissue, and heart and appears to direct the use of long chain fatty acids for energy. Although the functional importance of ACSL1 is becoming clear, little is understood about its post-translational regulation. In order to investigate the post-translational modifications of ACSL1 under different physiological conditions, we overexpressed ACSL1 in hepatocytes, brown adipocytes, and 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes, treated these cells with different hormones, and analyzed the resulting phosphorylated and acetylated amino acids by mass spectrometry. We then compared these results to the post-translational modifications observed in vivo in liver and brown adipose tissue after mice were fasted or exposed to a cold environment. We identified universal N-terminal acetylation, 15 acetylated lysines, and 25 phosphorylation sites on ACSL1. Several unique acetylation and phosphorylation sites occurred under conditions in which fatty acid β-oxidation is normally enhanced. Thirteen of the acetylated lysines had not previously been identified, and none of the phosphorylation sites had been previously identified. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce mutations at three potential acetylation and phosphorylation sites believed to be important for ACSL1 function. At the ATP/AMP binding site and at a highly conserved site near the C terminus, modifications of Ser278 or Lys676, respectively, totally inhibited ACSL1 activity. In contrast, mutations of Lys285 that mimicked acetylation (Lys285Ala and Lys285Gln) reduced ACSL activity, whereas full activity was retained by Lys285Arg, suggesting that acetylation of Lys285 would be likely to decrease ACSL1 activity. These results indicate that ACSL1 is highly modified post-translationally. Several of these modifications would be expected to alter enzymatic function, but others may affect protein stability or protein-protein interactions.

Human intestinal acyl-CoA synthetase 5 is sensitive to the inhibitor triacsin C

To investigate whether human acyl-CoA synthetase 5 (ACSL5) is sensitive to the ACSL inhibitor triacsin C. The ACSL isoforms ACSL1 and ACSL5 from rat as well as human ACSL5 were cloned and recombinantly expressed as 6xHis-tagged enzymes. Ni(2+)-affinity purified recombinant enzymes were assayed at pH 7.5 or pH 9.5 in the presence or absence of triacsin C. In addition, ACSL5 transfected CaCo2 cells and intestinal human mucosa were monitored. ACSL5 expression in cellular systems was verified using Western blot and immunofluorescence. The ACSL assay mix included TrisHCl (pH 7.4), ATP, CoA, EDTA, DTT, MgCl(2), [9,10-(3)H] palmitic acid, and triton X-100. The 200 μL reaction was initiated with the addition of solubilized, purified recombinant proteins or cellular lysates. Reactions were terminated after 10, 30 or 60 min of incubation with Doles medium. Expression of soluble recombinant ACSL proteins was found after incubation with isopropyl beta-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside and after ultracentrifugation these were further purified to near homogeneity with Ni(2+)-affinity chromatography. Triacsin C selectively and strongly inhibited recombinant human ACSL5 protein at pH 7.5 and pH 9.5, as well as recombinant rat ACSL1 (sensitive control), but not recombinant rat ACSL5 (insensitive control). The IC50 for human ACSL5 was about 10 μmol/L. The inhibitory triacsin C effect was similar for different incubation times (10, 30 and 60 min) and was not modified by the N- or C-terminal location of the 6xHis-tag. In order to evaluate ACSL5 sensitivity to triacsin C in a cellular environment, stable human ACSL5 CaCo2 transfectants and mechanically dissected normal human intestinal mucosa with high physiological expression of ACSL5 were analyzed. In both models, ACSL5 peak activity was found at pH 7.5 and pH 9.5, corresponding to the properties of recombinant human ACSL5 protein. In the presence of triacsin C (25 μmol/L), total ACSL activity was dramatically diminished in human ACSL5 transfectants as well as in ACSL5-rich human intestinal mucosa. The data strongly indicate that human ACSL5 is sensitive to triacsin C and does not compensate for other triacsin C-sensitive ACSL isoforms.

Adipose Acyl-CoA Synthetase-1 Directs Fatty Acids toward β-Oxidation and Is Required for Cold Thermogenesis

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase-1 (ACSL1) contributes 80% of total ACSL activity in adipose tissue and was believed to be essential for the synthesis of triacylglycerol. We predicted that an adipose-specific knockout of ACSL1 (Acsl1(A-/-)) would be lipodystrophic, but compared to controls, Acsl1(A-/-) mice had 30% greater fat mass when fed a low-fat diet and gained weight normally when fed a high-fat diet. Acsl1(A-/-) adipocytes incorporated [(14)C]oleate into glycerolipids normally, but fatty acid (FA) oxidation rates were 50%-90% lower than in control adipocytes and mitochondria. Acsl1(A-/-) mice were markedly cold intolerant, and beta(3)-adrenergic agonists did not increase oxygen consumption, despite normal adrenergic signaling in brown adipose tissue. The reduced adipose FA oxidation and marked cold intolerance of Acsl1(A-/-) mice indicate that normal activation of FA for oxidation in adipose tissue in vivo requires ACSL1. Thus, ACSL1 has a specific function in directing the metabolic partitioning of FAs toward beta-oxidation in adipocytes.

Liver-specific Loss of Long Chain Acyl-CoA Synthetase-1 Decreases Triacylglycerol Synthesis and β-Oxidation and Alters Phospholipid Fatty Acid Composition

In mammals, a family of five acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSLs), each the product of a separate gene, activates long chain fatty acids to form acyl-CoAs. Because the ACSL isoforms have overlapping preferences for fatty acid chain length and saturation and are expressed in many of the same tissues, the individual function of each isoform has remained uncertain. Thus, we constructed a mouse model with a liver-specific knock-out of ACSL1, a major ACSL isoform in liver. Eliminating ACSL1 in liver resulted in a 50% decrease in total hepatic ACSL activity and a 25-35% decrease in long chain acyl-CoA content. Although the content of triacylglycerol was unchanged in Acsl1(L)(-/-) liver after mice were fed either low or high fat diets, in isolated primary hepatocytes the absence of ACSL1 diminished the incorporation of [(14)C]oleate into triacylglycerol. Further, small but consistent increases were observed in the percentage of 16:0 in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine and of 18:1 in phosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine, whereas concomitant decreases were seen in 18:0 in phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and lysophosphatidylcholine. In addition, decreases in long chain acylcarnitine content and diminished production of acid-soluble metabolites from [(14)C]oleate suggested that hepatic ACSL1 is important for mitochondrial beta-oxidation of long chain fatty acids. Because the Acsl1(L)(-/-) mice were not protected from developing either high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis or insulin resistance, our study suggests that lowering the content of hepatic acyl-CoA without a concomitant decrease in triacylglycerol and other lipid intermediates is insufficient to protect against hepatic insulin resistance.

Acyl-CoA synthetases: fatty acid uptake and metabolic channeling

The molecular mechanism of fatty acid uptake and utilization is of high medical relevance for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Neuronal processes, hormones, and transcription factors are master regulators of these essential processes while their fine-tuning is achieved by modulating the activity and amount of enzymes. Proteins involved in fatty acid uptake and metabolism are important pharmaceutical targets. Only basic research on these molecules will lead to new strategies for therapy. Conceptionally, the intracellular utilization of long chain fatty acids may be subdivided into three steps: uptake across the plasma membrane, activation by esterification with coenzyme A, and subsequent metabolism. Long chain acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSLs) activate fatty acids for intracellular metabolism but are also involved in the regulation of uptake. The predominant pathways for fatty acids are their storage, membrane biosynthesis, and conversion to energy. How activated fatty acids are channeled toward one particular metabolic pathway is not well understood on the molecular level. We have previously shown that ACSLs localized to either the endoplasmic reticulum or to mitochondria can regulate the extent of fatty acid uptake. Multiple different long chain ACSLs are expressed simultaneously in the same cell type but differ in their subcellular localization. The hypothesis we put forward here implies that the spatial organization of ACSL activity is a key factor in channeling fatty acids toward a particular metabolic fate.

Effects of exercise on expression of skeletal muscle acyl‐CoA synthetase isoform gene expression in obese African‐American and Caucasian women

Reduced skeletal muscle (SKM) mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in African‐American women (AAW) may be due to reduced activity of Acyl‐CoA Synthetase‐long form (ACSL). However, endurance exercise training (EET) has been shown to increase SKM FAO in both AAW and Caucasian women (CW). The purpose was to determine the metabolic flexibility of SKM to expand the activity of ACSL in response to EET in obese (BMI 35–40 kg/m2) AAW and CW women. Following a 12 hr fast, biopsies from AAW and CW were obtained from either the rectus abdominus or vastus lateralis before and 4 h after acute exercise in the sedentary and trained (10 d and 8 wk of cycle ergometry) condition. Assays for total ACSL activity, protein content, and gene expression of ACSL 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 isoforms were assessed. In rectus abdominus, lower (P<0.05) ACSL‐5 protein content was observed in obese AAW vs. CW. Prior to EET, total ACSL activity in vastus lateralis was lower in both obese groups compared to leans, although activity was lower in obese AAW. 10 days of EET did not result in elevated ACSL activity in either obese AAW or CW. However, following 8 wk of EET, both groups demonstrated increased enzyme activity. In response to acute exercise, ACSL‐1 and ‐3 isoform gene expression rose solely in CW. In the trained, rested state, ACSL‐1 and ‐3 isoform expression was elevated in obese CW only (P < 0.05). Results support ACSL as a potential molecular mechanism to explain reduced SKM mitochondrial oxidative capacity in AAW although the increase in FAO in AAW after EET can not be explained by ACSL isoform gene expression.Supported by NIH DK065183‐01 and DK075880‐01

Triacsin C is a time dependent inhibitor of Long Chain Fatty Acyl CoA Synthetase (Acsl) in endothelial cells

The literature indicates that triacsin C is a competitive inhibitor of Acsl. We found that, in partially purified rat brain endothelial Acsl, maximum inhibition by triacsin C was only 82 ± 2%. Solubilized human coronary endothelial cells (HCEC) treated with triacsin C for one minute lost about 86 ± 2.6% of their activity, without further decline as triacsin C exposure time increased. HCEC were treated with 5 μM triacsin C for up to 8 hours, then washed, solubilized and assayed for Acsl activity. Activity in treated cells declined with a half‐time of 19 ± 2.9 minutes. HCEC pre‐treated with triacsin C for 2 hours were washed, re‐fed, and allowed to recover. At 24 hours post‐treatment, activity was only about 39 ± 5% of that of untreated HCEC. After 2 hours triacsin C treatment and 2 hours recovery, HCEC were exposed to [14C]‐palmitic acid for 2 hours. Radioactivity was 15 ± 5.7% of control in the fatty acyl CoA fraction, and 39 ± 2.6% of control in total extractable lipids. The weight of total extractable lipids (μg/well) was 44 ± 2.3 for control and 43 ± 4.6 for treated HCEC (not significant). These data indicate that triacsin C is likely a partial competitive inhibitor of Acsl in vitro and may be an irreversible inhibitor in situ. Supported by AHA 06552254 and NIH R21AG028901.

Fat mass is increased in the acyl‐CoA synthetase‐isoform 1 (ACSL1) adipose‐specific knockout mouse

Long chain acyl‐CoA synthetase (ACSL) catalyses the conversion of fatty acids into their acyl‐CoA derivatives. Acyl‐CoAs have multiple fates including oxidation, and incorporation into phospholipids, cholesteryl esters, and triacylglycerol. ACSL1, one of five ACSL isoforms, is highly expressed in white adipose tissue and thought to be important for triacylglycerol formation. To investigate the role of ACSL1 in adipose tissue we have created an adipose‐specific knock out of ACSL1, the ACSL1A−/− mouse. Although we expected mice with reduced fat mass, we report the contrary: the ACSL1A−/− mice have increased fat mass on a low‐fat diet. Animal weights are similar to their littermate controls yet fat mass is increased ~30%. ACSL1A−/− mice gain weight and fat mass similar to controls when fed a high‐fat diet. ACSL1A−/− mice have a ~40% reduction in total ACS activity in white adipose depots on both low‐fat and high‐fat diet with no evidence of compensation. Interestingly, we observe a reduction in total ACSL activity in adipose of mice fed a high‐fat diet that inversely correlates with fat mass. Despite increased adiposity, the ACSL1A−/− mice respond normally to glucose tolerance tests. The data suggest that the role of ACSL1 in adipocytes is not limited to the formation of triacylglycerol.