Mislocalization and inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 by a synthetic small molecule

Chromeceptin is a synthetic small molecule that inhibits insulin-induced adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells and impairs the function of IGF2 (insulin-like growth factor 2). The molecular target of this benzochromene derivative is MFP-2 (multifunctional protein 2). The interaction between chromeceptin and MFP-2 activates STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6), which subsequently induces IGF inhibitory genes. It was not previously known how the binding of chromeceptin with MFP-2 blocks adipogenesis and activates STAT6. The results of the present study show that the chromeceptin–MFP-2 complex binds to and inhibits ACC1 (acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1), an enzyme important for the de novo synthesis of malonyl-CoA and fatty acids. The formation of this ternary complex removes ACC1 from the cytosol and sequesters it in peroxisomes under the guidance of Pex5p (peroxisomal-targeting signal type 1 receptor). As a result, chromeceptin impairs fatty acid synthesis from acetate where ACC1 is a rate-limiting enzyme. Overexpression of malonyl-CoA decarboxylase or siRNA (small interfering RNA) knockdown of ACC1 results in STAT6 activation, suggesting a role for malonyl-CoA in STAT6 signalling. The molecular mechanism of chromeceptin may provide a new pharmacological approach to selective inhibition of ACC1 for biological studies and pharmaceutical development.