Carnitine biosynthesis in mammals

Carnitine is indispensable for energy metabolism, since it enables activated fatty acids to enter the mitochondria, where they are broken down via beta-oxidation. Carnitine is probably present in all animal species, and in numerous micro-organisms and plants. In mammals, carnitine homoeostasis is ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical journal 2002-02, Vol.361 (Pt 3), p.417-429
Main Authors: Vaz, Frédéric M, Wanders, Ronald J A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Carnitine - biosynthesis
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - analogs & derivatives
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism
Humans
Hydroxylysine - analogs & derivatives
Hydroxylysine - metabolism
Liver - metabolism
Mixed Function Oxygenases - metabolism
Models, Biological
Models, Chemical
Molecular Sequence Data
Oxygen - metabolism
Rats
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Summary:Carnitine is indispensable for energy metabolism, since it enables activated fatty acids to enter the mitochondria, where they are broken down via beta-oxidation. Carnitine is probably present in all animal species, and in numerous micro-organisms and plants. In mammals, carnitine homoeostasis is maintained by endogenous synthesis, absorption from dietary sources and efficient tubular reabsorption by the kidney. This review aims to cover the current knowledge of the enzymological, molecular, metabolic and regulatory aspects of mammalian carnitine biosynthesis, with an emphasis on the human and rat.
ISSN:0264-6021
1470-8728
DOI:10.1042/0264-6021:3610417