Figure 6.

ASA induces adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase AMPK activity, which involves a double effect: inhibition of ACC and activation of MCD. As result, malonyl-CoA falls rapidly, because its synthesis is blocked and its degradation is enhanced. Consequently, the decrease of malonyl-CoA levels prevents the inhibition of CPT1, causing an ultimate increase in fatty acid oxidation. Thus, ASA induces the formation of fatty acyl-carnitine, catalyzing the transfer of the fatty acyl group from CoA to carnitine. Subsequently, CAT shuttles the fatty acyl-carnitine across the mitochondrial membrane. Finally, the CPT2 converts fatty acyl-carnitine back into fatty acyl-CoA, which is broken down through the β-oxidation catabolic process. ACC: acetyl-CoA carboxylase; AMPK: adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase; ASA: acetylsalicylic acid; CAT: carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase; CoA: coenzyme A; CPT1: carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1; CPT2: carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2; MCD: malonyl-CoA decarboxylase.