Abstract

Fatty acids (FAs) play multiple physiological roles in humans as building blocks of (phospho)lipids, precursor of other biomolecules including long-chain alcohols and eicosanoids, oxidizable substrate, and signaling molecules, and occur in multiple different forms which vary widely in terms of their length, degree of unsaturation, and number and types of side-chain modifications. Biosynthesis of all these different FAs may start from palmitic acid synthesized de novo by the FASN-complex or from exogenous, dietary FAs including the essential FAs linoleic acid and linolenic acid for the synthesis of FAs from the (omega-3) and (omega-6) series, respectively. Proper homeostasis of FA metabolism dictates that the FAs synthesized and incorporated into other lipid species also undergo degradation and/or recycling. In this Chapter we will describe the essential features of FA metabolism in human cells with on the one hand the biosynthesis of all the different FAs to be incorporated into lipid species and the different disorders involved, and on the other hand the degradation of the FAs released from these lipid species and the different disorders involved. Altogether, these include the disorders of ether lipid biosynthesis, and peroxisomal α- and β-oxidation, the disorders of fatty acid chain elongation and fatty acid/fatty alcohol and fatty aldehyde metabolism and the disorders of eicosanoid metabolism.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInborn Metabolic Diseases: Diagnosis and Treatment
PublisherSpringer Berlin Heidelberg
Pages785-809
ISBN (Electronic)9783662631232
ISBN (Print)9783662631225
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jun 2022

Publication series

NameInborn Metabolic Diseases: Diagnosis and Treatment

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