| Modification Notes |
The Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACAD) family of enzymes are involved in the catabolism of fatty acids and amino acids. They provide a major source of energy for the heart and skeletal muscle. ACAD-9 is highly homologous to the VLCAD (very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase) protein and plays a key role in the ∫-oxidation of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids. ACAD-9 substrates include palmitoyl-CoA and stearoyl-CoA. ACAD-9 is ubquitously expressed but is most abundant in brain, kidney, heart, liver and skeletal muscle. Similar to VLCAD, ACAD-9 is a long-chain ACAD that localizes to the mitochondrial membrane and exists as a dimer. It may be an important contributor to maintaining membrane structure and integrity. Despite the high similarity between ACAD-9 and VLCAD, the two enzymes are not able to compensate in each others absence suggesting that they play roles in different physiological functions. |