InterPro: IPR012258 Acyl-CoA oxidase

Acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) acts on CoA derivatives of fatty acids with chain lengths from 8 to 18. It catalyses the first and rate-determining step of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation of fatty acids [1].

Acyl-CoA oxidase is a homodimer and the polypeptide chain of the subunit is folded into the N-terminal alpha-domain, beta-domain, and C-terminal alpha-domain [1]. Functional differences between the peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidases and the mitochondrial acyl-CoA dehydrogenases are attributed to structural differences in the FAD environments [2].

Experimental data indicate that in the pumpkin, the expression pattern of ACOX is very similar to that of the glyoxysomal enzyme 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase [3]. In humans, defects in ACOX1 are the cause of pseudoneonatal adrenoleukodystrophy, also known as peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase deficiency. Clinical features include mental retardation, leukodystrophy, seizures, mild hepatomegaly and hearing deficit. Pseudo-NALD is characterised by increased plasma levels of very-long chain fatty acids due to a decrease in, or absence of, peroxisome acyl-CoA oxidase activity, despite the peroxisomes being intact and functioning.