Induction of the fatty acid transport protein 1 and acyl-CoA synthase genes by dimer-selective rexinoids suggests that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-retinoid X receptor heterodimer is their molecular target

The intracellular fatty acid content of insulin-sensitive target tissues determines in part their insulin sensitivity. Uptake of fatty acids into cells is a controlled process determined in part by a regulated import/export system that is controlled at least by two key groups of proteins, i.e. the fatty acid transport protein (FATP) and acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), which facilitate, respectively, the transport of fatty acids across the cell membrane and catalyze their esterification to prevent their efflux. Previously it was shown that the expression of the FATP-1 and ACS genes was controlled by insulin and by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists in liver or in adipose t…