ACSL3: Proteins and Enzymes

Long-chain-fatty-acid--CoA ligase 3, or ACSL3, is an isozyme of the long-chain fatty-acid-coenzyme A ligase family. These proteins play an important role in both the biosynthesis of cellular lipids and degradation via beta-oxidation. Like other isozymes of this family, ALCS3 converts free long-chain fatty acids into fatty acyl-CoA esters. Specifically, ACSL3 mediates hepatic lipogenesis By similarity and has a mainly anabolic role in energy metabolism.

This isozyme is highly expressed in brain, and preferentially utilizes myristate, arachidonate, and eicosapentaenoate as substrates. The amino acid sequence of this isozyme is 92% identical to that of rat homolog. Two transcript variants encoding the same protein have been found for this gene.