Molecular Regulation of Fatty Acid Oxidation in Skeletal Muscle during Aerobic Exercise

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Jan;29(1):18-30. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2017.10.011. Epub 2017 Dec 5.

Abstract

This review summarizes how fatty acid (FA) oxidation is regulated in skeletal muscle during exercise. From the available evidence it seems that acetyl-CoA availability in the mitochondrial matrix adjusts FA oxidation to exercise intensity and duration. This is executed at the step of mitochondrial fatty acyl import, as the extent of acetyl group sequestration by carnitine determines the availability of carnitine for the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) reaction. The rate of glycolysis seems therefore to be central to the amount of β-oxidation-derived acetyl-CoA that is oxidized in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. FA oxidation during exercise is also determined by FA availability to mitochondria, dependent on trans-sarcolemmal FA uptake via cluster of differentiation 36/SR-B2 (CD36) and FAs mobilized from myocellular lipid droplets.

Keywords: acetyl-CoA; carnitine; carnitine acyltransferase; carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1; glycolysis; pyruvate dehydrogenase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetyl Coenzyme A / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Carnitine / metabolism*
  • Carnitine Acyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Acetyl Coenzyme A
  • Carnitine Acyltransferases
  • Carnitine