Acetoacetyl Coenzyme A Synthetase (AACS)

The activity of acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase, a cytoplasmic enzyme that activates acetoacetate, was found to be highly regulated by modulators known to affect the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and/or cholesterol biosynthesis in liver and adrenals of adult rats. Acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase activity was depressed by feeding cholesterol or mevalonate administration and was enhanced by the addition to the diet of mevinolin and/or cholestyramine. The activity of acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase in adrenals was enhanced by treatment of the animals with 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidine. These changes in activity of acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase were in synchrony with changes in the activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase.