Identification and Regulation of a Hepatic Lipogenic Metabolon

De novo lipogenesis (DNL) plays a key role in the excessive fat accumulation present in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Most mechanistic studies and experimental strategies for improving hepatic steatosis in MASLD have focused on the transcriptional regulation of enzymes involved in DNL and triglyceride (TG) synthesis. Here, we provide evidence for a post-translational mechanism that enhances fatty acid (FA) and TG synthesis through the assembly of a multi-protein lipogenic metabolon in liver. Under anabolic conditions, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) interacts with additional key enzymes in the DNL and TG synthesis pathway. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy reveal that this lipogenic metabolon localizes around lipid droplets (LDs) and in proximity to mitochondria and LD interfaces in the anabolic state. The formation of the lipogenic metabolon facilitates the efficient transfer of FA synthesis intermediates to enhance lipogenic flux. These findings uncover a new nutrient-responsive, post-translational regulatory mechanism for hepatic lipogenesis and highlight the lipogenic metabolon as a potential therapeutic target for metabolic liver diseases.

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Publication Details

Journal
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Published
2025-12-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64898/2025.12.30.696908
Primary Topic
Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Identification and Regulation of a Hepatic Lipogenic Metabolon

Xiaorong Fu, William Bennion McKean, Jay D Horton, Xiaotong Zhu et al.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
article

Identification and Regulation of a Hepatic Lipogenic Metabolon

Xiaorong Fu, William Bennion McKean, Jay D Horton, Xiaotong Zhu, Chai-Wan Kim, Tam Tran
article en

Abstract

De novo lipogenesis (DNL) plays a key role in the excessive fat accumulation present in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Most mechanistic studies and experimental strategies for improving hepatic steatosis in MASLD have focused on the transcriptional regulation of enzymes involved in DNL and triglyceride (TG) synthesis. Here, we provide evidence for a post-translational mechanism that enhances fatty acid (FA) and TG synthesis through the assembly of a multi-protein lipogenic metabolon in liver. Under anabolic conditions, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) interacts with additional key enzymes in the DNL and TG synthesis pathway. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy reveal that this lipogenic metabolon localizes around lipid droplets (LDs) and in proximity to mitochondria and LD interfaces in the anabolic state. The formation of the lipogenic metabolon facilitates the efficient transfer of FA synthesis intermediates to enhance lipogenic flux. These findings uncover a new nutrient-responsive, post-translational regulatory mechanism for hepatic lipogenesis and highlight the lipogenic metabolon as a potential therapeutic target for metabolic liver diseases.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (US), Star Center (US), The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
National Institutes of Health
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 28%
Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
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Identification and Regulation of a Hepatic Lipogenic Metabolon — Xiaorong Fu, William Bennion McKean, et al. · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS