NME_CoA

The regulated management of the cellular pool of Actyl-Coenzyme A (Ac-CoA) is of critical importance for the life of all organisms. Depending on the energy status of cells, Ac-CoA can be used either in lipid synthesis and storage or in a complex signalling process leading to histone acetylation and transcriptional response of a specific group of genes. We have recently discovered a new regulatory layer based on the identification of an ATP-dependent carrier of cellular Ac-CoA, thus revealing an unsuspected cross-talk between intermediate metabolism and epigenetic regulation. Furthermore, an exciting and completely new concept emerges from our pilot work, which is the intracellular storage of Ac-CoA through abundant specific binding proteins, thus controlling the main pathways of Ac-CoA synthesis/consumption. The present proposal aims to functionally characterise the role of these new findings under different physio-pathological conditions. We believe that the completion of this research programme should pave the way for important conceptual advances in the field of metabolic regulation.