Annonaceous acetogenins mimic AA005 targets mitochondrial trifunctional enzyme alpha subunit to treat obesity in male mice

Obesity and related diseases pose a major health risk, yet current anti-obesity drugs inadequately addressing clinical needs. Here we show AA005, an annonaceous acetogenin mimic, resists obesity induced by high-fat diets and leptin mutations at non-toxic doses, with the alpha subunit of the mitochondrial trifunctional protein (HADHA) as a target identified through proteomics and in vitro validation. Pharmacokinetic analysis shows AA005 enriches in adipose tissue, prompting the creation of adipose-specific Hadha-deficient mice. These mice significantly mitigate diet-induced obesity, echoing AA005’s anti-obesity effects. AA005 treatment and Hadha deletion in adipose tissues increase body temperature and energy expenditure in high-fat diet-fed mice. The beneficial impact of AA005 on obesity mitigation is ineffective without uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), essential for thermogenesis regulation. Our investigation shows the interaction between AA005 and HADHA in mitochondria, activating the UCP1-mediated thermogenic pathway. This substantiates AA005 as a promising compound for obesity treatment, targeting HADHA specifically.