Acyl-CoA refers to a fatty acid chain linked to coenzyme A via a thioester bond.

Acyl-CoAs are intermediates in oxidation of fatty acids, in fat synthesis, in elongation of fatty acids longer than palmitate (16 carbons), in fatty acid desaturation.

Enzymes that act on acyl-CoAs include thiolase, fatty acyl-CoA ligase, fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase, 3-hydroxyacylCoA dehydrogenase, enoyl-CoA isomerase, and 2,4 dienoyl-CoA reductase.