ACSL4 Background Information
Acyl-CoA synthetases, also known as long-chain fatty-acid CoA synthases (FACL) or palmitoyl-CoA ligases, include ACSL1-6, which are all single-pass membrane proteins localizing to the mitochondrion, microsome or peroxisome. FACL proteins are important for synthesis of cellular lipids and for ∫-oxidation degradation. Specifically, ACSL proteins catalyze the activation of long-chain fatty acids to acyl-CoAs, which can be metabolized to form CO2, triacylglycerol (TAG), phospholipids (PL) and cholesteryl esters (CE). ACSL3 preferentially utilizes laurate, myristate, arachidonate and eicosapentaenoate among saturated and unsaturated long chain fatty acids. FACL3 is expressed as two isoforms in various tissues, including brain, heart, placenta, prostate, skeletal muscle, testis and thymus. FACL4 preferentially utilizes arachidonate and is abundant in steroidogenic tissues. FACL4 may modulate female fertility and uterine prostaglandin production.
