Acyl-CoA thioesterases such as ACOT1, hydrolyze acyl-CoAs to the free fatty acid and CoA. ACOTs therefore play key roles in maintaining the intracellular ratio between CoA esters of various lipids and free fatty acids. Acyl-CoA thioesterases are a group of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of acyl-CoAs to the free fatty acid and coenzyme A (CoASH), providing the potential to regulate intracellular levels of acyl-CoAs, free fatty acids and CoASH.