Catalyzes the conversion of long-chain fatty acids to their active form acyl-CoA for both synthesis of cellular lipids, and degradation via beta-oxidation (, ). Plays an important role in fatty acid metabolism in brain and the acyl-CoAs produced may be utilized exclusively for the synthesis of the brain lipid.
Subcellular locations: Mitochondrion outer membrane, Peroxisome membrane, Microsome membrane, Endoplasmic reticulum membrane
Expressed predominantly in erythrocyte precursors, in particular in reticulocytes, fetal blood cells derived from fetal liver, hemopoietic stem cells from cord blood, bone marrow and brain.