Compositions, assays, and methods for direct modulation of fatty acid metabolism

(canceled)

(canceled)

-11. (canceled)

A method of reducing or lowering fatty acid β-oxidation thereby decreasing ATP/energy production in a cell, the method comprising contacting the cell with a composition comprising an agent that inhibits the interaction between MCL-1 and VLCAD, or directly inhibits VLCAD, wherein the method results in reducing or lowering fatty acid β-oxidation in the cell relative to fatty acid β-oxidation in the cell not contacted with the agent.

13-19. (canceled)

A method for inhibiting the interaction between MCL-1 and VLCAD, the method comprising contacting a mixture comprising MCL-1 and VLCAD with an agent that binds VLCAD and/or MCL-1 to disrupt VLCAD activity.

(canceled)

A method for identifying a compound that modulates MCL-1/VLCAD interaction, the method comprising:

• contacting an MCL-1 polypeptide and a VLCAD polypeptide with a test compound;
• and
• detecting a reduction in interaction between the MCL-1 polypeptide and the VLCAD polypeptide relative to the interaction between the MCL-1 polypeptide and the VLCAD polypeptide in the absence of the test compound, wherein detection of a reduced interaction between the MCL-1 polypeptide and the VLCAD polypeptide identifies the test compound as a compound that modulates the MCL-1/VLCAD interaction.

-29. (canceled)

A method for identifying an agent that inhibits the enzymatic activity of VLCAD, the method comprising:

• contacting a VLCAD polypeptide with a test compound, and determining that the test compound decreases the enzymatic activity of VLCAD relative to the enzymatic assay of VLCAD determined in the absence of contacting the VLCAD polypeptide with the test compound;
• and
• identifying the test compound as an inhibitor of the enzymatic activity of VLCAD.

-36. (canceled)

-42. (canceled)

-52. (canceled)

(canceled)

(canceled)

An MCL-1 SAHB peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence that is identical to an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs:

• 11, 15, 19, 26, 28, 30, 43-60, except for 1 to 6 amino acid substitutions, wherein the SAHB binds to VLCAD and/or MCL-1.

-64. (canceled)

A photoreactive SAHB (pSAHB) comprising or consisting of:

• (a) an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs.43-60, except for 1 to 5 amino acid substitutions, wherein the pSAHB binds to VLCAD and/or MCL-1;
• or (b) an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs.:61-63, or (c) an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 11, 15, 19, 26, 28, and 30.

-70. (canceled)