Malonyl-CoA--regulator of fatty acid oxidation in muscle during exercise.

As muscle goes from a resting state to exercise, the following sequence of events occurs (Figure 5.5): (1) The rise in AMP accompanying contraction allosterically activates AMPK and an AMPK kinase; (2) The activated AMPK kinase phosphorylates and further activates AMPK; (3) The activated AMPK phosphorylates and inactivates ACC; and (4) The consequent decline in malonyl-CoA (product of ACC reaction) relieves inhibition of CPT-1 and allows an increased rate of fatty acid oxidation when fatty acids become available.