FASN and Associated Diseases

In the field of gene therapy, Creative Biolabs has majored in gene therapy for more than ten years, together with well-trained scientists and excellent platforms. We believe that all your projects associated with gene therapy can be treated seriously and we can provide one-stop service for all your purposes.

Overview of FASN

In humans, fatty acid synthase (FAS) is an enzyme encoded by the FASN gene. FAS is a multi-enzyme protein that mainly catalyzes palmitate synthesis with the substrate of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA in an NADPH-dependent pathway. The synthesis of fatty acid involves a series of decarboxylative claisen condensation reactions. There are two principal kinds of FAS. Type I systems exist in animals and fungi whereas type II systems are found in archaea, bacteria, and plant plastids.

FASN in Disease

FASN-associated diseases include obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and fatty liver disease. Besides, FASN has been regarded as a possible oncogene, because of the upregulation expression of FASN in tumors such as breast, colorectal, and gastric cancers.

  • Colorectal cancer

The concentration of FASN in serum is a potential marker of colorectal cancer (CRC). In CRC patients, the serum FASN level is significantly higher than that of the healthy ones. The tumor extent, distant metastasis, and tumor clinical stage are associated with the serum FASN level in CRC patients. A 5-year survival curve reflects that the patients with low serum FASN levels will survive longer than the ones with high serum FASN levels. This means that the high serum concentration of FASN can be used to predict CRC with advanced phases, late clinical stages, and shorter survival.

Higher serum FASN levels in CRC patients had lower survival rates Fig.1 Higher serum FASN levels in CRC patients had lower survival rates. (Long, 2014)

  • Senescence

Inhibition of FASN can reduce the impact caused by senescent cells. During the process of senescence induction in human primary fibroblasts, the FASN levels increase, which can also be observed in the aged mouse liver tissues. The addition of C75, a small-molecule inhibitor of FASN activity, not only prevents the induction of senescence in human senescent cells but also reduces the expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors such as IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6. The FASN knockdown by shRNA performs the identical phenomenon to the C75 treatment. FASN inhibition can also induce metabolic changes in senescent cells.

Creative Biolabs has extensive experience and advanced equipment in the field of gene therapy. We are professional in every process of gene therapy to certainly accelerate the progress of your project and solve your questions. Please feel free to contact us for more about your FASN project.

References

  1. Long, Q.;et al. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) levels in serum of colorectal cancer patients: correlation with clinical outcomes. Tumor Biol. 2014, 35: 3855–3859.
  2. Fafián-Labora, J.; et al. FASN activity is important for the initial stages of the induction of senescence. Cell Death Dis. 2019, 10: 318.
For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.