ACSS3 in brown fat drives propionate catabolism and its deficiency leads to autophagy and systemic metabolic dysfunction

Propionate is a gut microbial metabolite that has been reported to have controversial effects on metabolic health. Here we show that propionate is activated by acyl‐CoA synthetase short‐chain family member 3 (ACSS3), located on the mitochondrial inner membrane in brown adipocytes. Knockout of Acss3 gene (Acss3(–/–)) in mice reduces brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass but increases white adipose tissue (WAT) mass, leading to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance that are exacerbated by high‐fat diet (HFD). Intriguingly, Acss3(–/–) or HFD feeding significantly elevates propionate levels in BAT and serum, and propionate supplementation induces autophagy in cultured brown and white adipocytes. The elevated levels of propionate in Acss3(–/–) mice similarly drive adipocyte autophagy, and pharmacological inhibition of autophagy using hydroxychloroquine ameliorates obesity, hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance of the Acss3(–/–) mice. These results establish ACSS3 as the key enzyme for propionate metabolism and demonstrate that accumulation of propionate promotes obesity and Type 2 diabetes through triggering adipocyte autophagy.