In the article with the title “The Peroxisomal Enzyme L-PBE Is Required to Prevent the Dietary Toxicity of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids”, the Riezman lab describe their discovery that lauric acid, a toxic ingredient in coconut oil, activates a pathway, which transforms it into dicarboxylic fatty acids. This in turn activates other fatty acid oxidation pathways, which generate toxic by-products. The enzyme L-PBE however keeps these pathways under control, allowing organisms to safely metabolise nutrient rich coconut oil.

This research was done in collaboration with the lab of Bernard Thorens at the University of Lausanne.

More information

• The Peroxisomal Enzyme L-PBE Is Required to Prevent the Dietary Toxicity of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids, Cell reports
• L’UNIL sonde les secrets des acides gras saturés, Media Monitoring 
• Press release (UNIL)