title: Fatty acid alpha-hydroxylation and its relation to myelination.
abstract: alpha-Hydroxylation is an enzymatic reaction by which long-chain fatty acids are converted to their alpha-hydroxy derivatives. This reaction, in animals, can be detected only in developing brain and is the rate-determining step in the synthesis of hydroxycerebroside, which is an indispensable and abundant myelin lipid. In addition to a particulate fraction from brain, two cytoplasmic factors, one heat-stable and the other heat-labile, are required for alpha-hydroxylation. During the past eight years we have been investigating alpha-hydroxylation. Our progress is summarized and discussed here.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D002554:Cerebrosides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004579:Electron Transport; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006880:Hydroxy Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002554:Cerebrosides; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006880:Hydroxy Acids