Phytanic acid alpha-oxidation, new insights into an old problem: a review

R. J. A. Wanders, G. A. Jansen, M. D. Lloyd

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Phytanic acid (3,7,10,14-tetramethylhexadecanoic acid) is a branched-chain fatty acid which is known to accumulate in a number of different genetic diseases including Refsum disease. Due to the presence of a methyl-group at the 3-position, phytanic acid and other 3-methyl fatty acids can not undergo beta-oxidation but are first subjected to fatty acid alpha-oxidation in which the terminal carboxyl-group, is released as CO2. The mechanism of alpha-oxidation has long remained obscure but has been resolved in recent years. Furthermore, peroxisomes have been found to play an indispensable role in fatty acid alpha-oxidation, and the complete alpha-oxidation machinery is probably localized in peroxisomes. This Review describes the current state of knowledge about fatty acid alpha-oxidation in mammals with particular emphasis on the mechanism involved and the enzymology of the pathway. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)119-135
JournalBIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY OF LIPIDS
Volume1631
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003

Cite this