Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37248213›Full record

ArticleNature communications2023

Mechanism of action for small-molecule inhibitors of triacylglycerol synthesis.

Xuewu Sui, Kun Wang, Kangkang Song, Chen Xu, Jiunn Song, Chia-Wei Lee, Maofu Liao, Robert V Farese, Tobias C Walther

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. cGAS Inhibits ALDH2 to Suppress Lipid Droplet Function and Regulate MASLD Progression.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025
    Article
  5. Combined targeting of PRDX6 and GSTP1 as a potential differentiation strategy for neuroblastoma treatment.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025
    Article
  6. Essential Biology of Lipid Droplets.Annual review of biochemistry · 2025
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Xuewu SuiDepartment of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7024-5634
Kun WangDepartment of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Kangkang SongDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
Chen XuDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
Jiunn SongDepartment of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Chia-Wei LeeDepartment of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Maofu Liao *Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. liaomf@sustech.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0002-3481-450X
Robert V Farese *Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. robert@mskcc.org.ORCID 0000-0001-8103-2239
Tobias C Walther *Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. twalther@mskcc.org.ORCID 0000-0003-1442-1327
Harvard University · USBroad Institute · USUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School · US

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI Hongbiao Carl Lekaye · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
Mechanisms of Lipid Droplet FormationR01GM124348 · NIGMS · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · PI FARESE, ROBERT V · 2017 to 2024
$2.9M
Howard Hughes Medical InstituteNCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM124348
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Inhibitors of triacylglycerol (TG) synthesis have been developed to treat metabolism-related diseases, but we know little about their mechanisms of action. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of the TG-synthesis enzyme acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), a membrane bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT), in complex with two different inhibitors, T863 and DGAT1IN1. Each inhibitor binds DGAT1's fatty acyl-CoA substrate binding tunnel that opens to the cytoplasmic side of the ER. T863 blocks access to the tunnel entrance, whereas DGAT1IN1 extends further into the enzyme, with an amide group interacting with more deeply buried catalytic residues. A survey of DGAT1 inhibitors revealed that this amide group may serve as a common pharmacophore for inhibition of MBOATs. The inhibitors were minimally active against the related MBOAT acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1), yet a single-residue mutation sensitized ACAT1 for inhibition. Collectively, our studies provide a structural foundation for developing DGAT1 and other MBOAT inhibitors.

Indexed as

AcyltransferasesDiacylglycerol O-AcyltransferaseLipogenesisSterol O-AcyltransferaseTriglyceridesAcyltransferasesDiacylglycerol O-AcyltransferaseSterol O-AcyltransferaseTriglycerides

Identifiers

PMID37248213
PMCPMC10227072
OpenAlexW4378714043

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.