Acyl-CoA Binding Proteins in Plant Lipid Metabolism

Acyl-CoA binding proteins (ACBPs) are a conserved family of low-molecular-mass proteins that sequester and ferry long-chain acyl-coenzyme A esters, key intermediates in fatty acid synthesis, membrane assembly and energy metabolism. In plants, ACBPs regulate the cytosolic pool of acyl-CoA esters to ensure efficient lipid trafficking between organelles such as plastids, endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisomes. Beyond their transport role, plant ACBPs influence developmental processes—including seed maturation and cuticle formation—and mediate adaptive responses to abiotic stresses by linking lipid homeostasis to gene expression. Distinct classes of ACBPs, characterised by the presence or absence of ankyrin-repeat or kelch-motif domains, confer specificity for partner proteins such as kinases or lipoxygenases. Through these interactions, ACBPs act as metabolic sensors, modulating signalling cascades that govern salt tolerance, pathogen resistance and oil accumulation. Recent advances highlight their potential as biotechnological tools for tailoring seed oil composition and enhancing crop resilience under climate-induced stress.

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Acyl-CoA Binding Proteins in Plant Lipid Metabolism publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in acyl-coa binding proteins in plant lipid metabolism across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP): Small soluble protein that binds acyl-CoA esters, mediating their intracellular transport and sequestration.

Acyl-CoA: Thioester formed by the linkage of a fatty acid to coenzyme A, serving as a substrate in lipid metabolism.

Ankyrin-repeat domain: Protein motif composed of tandem repeats that facilitate specific protein–protein interactions.

Lipoxygenase: Enzyme that oxygenates polyunsaturated fatty acids to produce hydroperoxy derivatives, precursors of oxylipin signals.

Oxylipin: Oxygenated fatty acid derivative acting as a signalling molecule in plant stress and defence pathways.

Alternative splicing: Process by which a single gene yields multiple mRNA isoforms through selective exon inclusion or exclusion.

References

1. Acyl‐CoA‐binding proteins: bridging long‐chain acyl‐CoA metabolism to gene regulation. New Phytologist (2025).
2. Acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) genes involvement in response to abiotic stress and exogenous hormone application in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). BMC Plant Biology (2024).
3. Interaction of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Class II ACBPs with MPK2 and SAPK2 Kinases: New Insights into the Regulatory Mechanisms of Plant ACBPs. Plants (2024).
4. Oxylipin signaling in salt-stressed soybean is modulated by ligand-dependent interaction of Class II acyl-CoA-binding proteins with lipoxygenase. The Plant Cell (2021).
5. Advances in Understanding the Acyl-CoA-Binding Protein in Plants, Mammals, Yeast, and Filamentous Fungi. Journal of Fungi (2020).
6. Overexpression of Arabidopsis ACBP3 Enhances NPR1-Dependent Plant Resistance to Pseudomonas syringe pv tomato DC3000. Plant Physiology (2011).
7. Acyl CoA Binding Proteins are Required for Cuticle Formation and Plant Responses to Microbes. Frontiers in Plant Science (2012).
8. Production of a Brassica napus Low-Molecular Mass Acyl-Coenzyme A-Binding Protein in Arabidopsis Alters the Acyl-Coenzyme A Pool and Acyl Composition of Oil in Seeds. Plant Physiology (2014).
9. Comparative Transcriptomics Analysis of Brassica napus L. during Seed Maturation Reveals Dynamic Changes in Gene Expression between Embryos and Seed Coats and Distinct Expression Profiles of Acyl-CoA-Binding Proteins for Lipid Accumulation. Plant and Cell Physiology (2019).