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Cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthesis shields mitochondria from stress in brown adipocytes

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) facilitates thermogenesis through fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Paradoxically, BAT simultaneously increases anabolic fatty acid synthesis (FAS), the reason for which is unclear. We provide evidence that thermogenic mitochondria within brown adipocytes export TCA cycle intermediates that fuel de novo lipid synthesis, in part to protect against metabolic stress.

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Fig. 1: ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is essential for BAT thermogenesis in mildly cold mice.

References

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This is a summary of: Korobkina, E. D. et al. Brown fat ATP-citrate lyase links carbohydrate availability to thermogenesis and guards against metabolic stress. Nat. Metab. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-024-01143-3 (2024).

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Cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthesis shields mitochondria from stress in brown adipocytes. Nat Metab 6, 2037–2038 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-024-01152-2

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