Molecular Characterization of Arachidonate Preferring Acyl-CoA Synthetase, ACS4

In arachidonate metabolism, acyl-CoA synthetase(ACS) plays a key role in esterification of free arachidonate into membrane phospholipids. ACS4 is an arachidonate preferring ACS abundant in steroidogenic tissues. The human gene for ACS4 (FACL4) is mapped chromosome band Xq22-23, a region close to the a5 chain of the type IV collagen gene that is related to X-linked Alport Syndrome. Recent studies have revealed that FACL4 is deleted in patients with Alport Syndrome, elliptocytosis and mental retardation, suggesting that the enzyme may play a role in intellectual growth in humans.