ACSM3 and metabolic syndrome: A most promising candidate gene contributing to the susceptibility of PD rats to MetS is Acsm3 (acyl-CoA-synthetase for medium-chain member 3), which belongs to a family of enzymes activating medium-chain fatty acids (C4-C14) to beta-oxidation [10], and which was absent in the liver of PD on both mRNA and protein levels.