SIRT5 inhibits peroxisomal ACOX1 to prevent oxidative damage and is downregulated in liver cancer.

Peroxisomes account for ~35% of total HO generation in mammalian tissues. Peroxisomal ACOX1 (acyl-CoA oxidase 1) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid β-oxidation and a major producer of HO ACOX1 dysfunction is linked to peroxisomal disorders and hepatocarcinogenesis. Here， we show that the deacetylase sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) is present in peroxisomes and that ACOX1 is a physiological substrate of SIRT5. Mechanistically， SIRT5-mediated desuccinylation inhibits ACOX1 activity by suppressing its active dimer formation in both cultured cells and mouse livers. Deletion of SIRT5 increases HO production and oxidative DNA damage， which can be alleviated by knockdown. We show that SIRT5 downregulation is associated with increased succinylation and activity of ACOX1 and oxidative DNA damage response in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our study reveals a novel role of SIRT5 in inhibiting peroxisome-induced oxidative stress， in liver protection， and in suppressing HCC development.