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Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and their metabolites are critical players in cell biology and embryonic development. Here we show that long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4a (Acsl4a), an LC-PUFA activating enzyme, is essential for proper patterning of the zebrafish dorsoventral axis. Loss of Acsl4a results in dorsalized embryos due to attenuated bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) signaling. We demonstrate that Acsl4a modulates the activity of Smad transcription factors, the downstream mediators of Bmp signaling. Acsl4a promotes the inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and the Akt-mediated inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3, critical inhibitors of Smad activity. Consequently, introduction of a constitutively active Akt can rescue the dorsalized phenotype of Acsl4a-deficient embryos. Our results reveal a critical role for Acsl4a in modulating Bmp-Smad activity and provide a potential avenue for LC-PUFAs to influence a variety of developmental processes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2013.11.011 | DOI Listing |
Neurosci Lett
September 2025
Institute of Neuroscience & Department of Physiology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001 Hunan, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease (University of South China), Hengyang 421001 Hunan, PR China; The Second Affiliated Hospital, Brain Disease Resea
Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) is a prevalent complication following radiotherapy for head and neck tumors, and its effective therapeutic strategies are lacking. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, has recently emerged as an important mechanism of radiation-induced cell death. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuro-interventional technique with antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Biomed
September 2025
National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation & Institute of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in coordinating immune responses by linking innate and adaptive immunity through their exceptional antigen-presenting capabilities. Recent studies reveal that metabolic reprogramming-especially pathways involving acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA)-critically influences DC function in both physiological and pathological contexts. This review consolidates current knowledge on how environmental factors, tumor-derived signals, and intrinsic metabolic pathways collectively regulate DC development, subset differentiation, and functional adaptability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochem Pharmacol
September 2025
Department of Anesthesiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 XianXia Road, Shanghai 200336, China; Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 XianXia Road, Shanghai 200336, China. El
Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is a severe condition leading to extensive neuronal loss and functional impairments, representing a significant challenge in neonatal care. PFGA12, a peptide derived from fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA), which is notably downregulated in the umbilical cord blood of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) infants. We demonstrate that PFGA12 significantly enhances cell viability and mitigates oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced neuronal cell death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cardiovasc Transl Res
September 2025
Department of Cardiology, Bei'an Hospital, Beidahuang Group, Heihe, 164000, Heilongjiang Province, China.
Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) worsens ischemic damage, with ferroptosis as a key mediator of this iron-dependent cell death. Lactylation, a novel epigenetic modification, remains poorly understood in MIRI-associated ferroptosis. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanistic link between lactylation and ferroptosis in MIRI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Control Release
September 2025
Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:
Purpose: This study aims to develop and validate a novel ACSL4-targeted fluorescent probe to enhance intraoperative visualization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), emphasizing its binding affinity, specificity, and clinical applicability.
Methods: Transcriptomic sequencing data from TCGA, ICGC, CPTAC, and GSE25097 were analyzed to establish ACSL4 as a viable target for tumor visualization. An ACSL4-specific binding peptide (ABP) was identified using a combination of in vivo and in vitro phage display screening.