International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review The Pathophysiological Role of CoA Aleksandra Czumaj 1 , Sylwia Szrok-Jurga 2 , Areta Hebanowska 2 , Jacek Turyn 2 , Julian Swierczynski 3, Tomasz Sledzinski 1,* and Ewa Stelmanska 2,* 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gda´nsk,Poland;
[email protected] 2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland;
[email protected] (S.S.-J.);
[email protected] (A.H.);
[email protected] (J.T.) 3 State School of Higher Vocational Education in Koszalin, 75-582 Koszalin, Poland;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] (T.S.);
[email protected] (E.S.); Tel.: +48-(0)-583-491-479 (T.S.) Received: 16 October 2020; Accepted: 25 November 2020; Published: 28 November 2020 Abstract: The importance of coenzyme A (CoA) as a carrier of acyl residues in cell metabolism is well understood. Coenzyme A participates in more than 100 different catabolic and anabolic reactions, including those involved in the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, ethanol, bile acids, and xenobiotics. However, much less is known about the importance of the concentration of this cofactor in various cell compartments and the role of altered CoA concentration in various pathologies. Despite continuous research on these issues, the molecular mechanisms in the regulation of the intracellular level of CoA under pathological conditions are still not well understood. This review summarizes the current knowledge of (a) CoA subcellular concentrations; (b) the roles of CoA synthesis and degradation processes; and (c) protein modification by reversible CoA binding to proteins (CoAlation).