Mitochondrial FAO pathway and therapeutic targets. The scavenger receptor CD36 facilitates the uptake of long-chain FAs into the cytoplasm of AML cells. Inside the cells, FAs are first transported by FA-binding proteins (FABPs) and other transport proteins, followed by activation in a 2-step reaction: forming acyl-CoA in the cytoplasm and then FAO, forming acetyl-CoA inside mitochondria. CPT-1 conjugates FAs to carnitine, a prerequisite for mitochondrial translocation of FAs from the cytoplasm. In mitochondria, VLCAD, an intramitochondrial FAO enzyme, starts to catalyze the dehydrogenation reaction of long-chain FAs as the first intramitochondrial step of FAO. FAO generates ATP and provides acetyl-CoA to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.