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A novel hexyl-substituted methylenecyclopropyl acetyl-CoA was tested as an enzyme-specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenase inhibitor. Its CoA ester generated in situ from the carboxylic acid and CoASH, displayed marked differences in inhibition specificity as compared to methylenecyclopropyl acetyl-CoA, consistent with the substrate specificities of the target enzymes. Thus methylenecyclopropyl acetyl-CoA inactivated short-chain-specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenase rapidly, medium-chain-specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenase much more slowly and had no effect on long-chain- or very long-chain-specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenases. The hexyl-substituent on the methylenecyclopropyl ring gave an inhibitor which rapidly inactivated MCAD and LCAD whilst VLCAD was inhibited more slowly and SCAD was essentially unaffected. In some cases (e.g. SCAD and MCPA-CoA) inhibition was accompanied by flavin bleaching. In other cases (e.g. LCAD and C6MCPA) less pronounced bleaching suggests a different chemistry of inhibition.

The sulphonylureas glibenclamide and tolbutamide inhibited carnitine acyltransferase activities in rat liver microsomes. Glibenclamide was a more potent inhibitor than tolbutamide. The effect of tolbutamide on the malonyl-CoA-inhibitable transferase was influenced by the phospholipid/detergent environment whereas the effect of glibenclamide was not. Glibenclamide was a more potent inhibitor of the malonyl-CoA-inhibitable transferase than of the malonyl-CoA-insensitive enzyme. The extent of inhibition of the malonyl-CoA-inhibitable transferase by tolbutamide was similar to its effect on VLDL triacylglycerol secretion as reported by Wiggins and Gibbons [Biochem. J. 284 (1992) 457-462] possibly supporting the suggestion that microsomal carnitine acyltransferases are involved in VLDL triacylglycerol assembly/secretion.