title: Alpha-oxidation.
abstract: Phytanic acid (3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic acid) is a branched chain fatty acid, which is a constituent of the human diet. The presence of the 3-methyl group of phytanic acid prevents degradation by beta-oxidation. Instead, the terminal carboxyl group is first removed by alpha-oxidation. The mechanism of the alpha-oxidation pathway and the enzymes involved are described in this review.
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. g.a.jansen@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Gerbert A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Ronald J A
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wanders
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D020675:Peroxisomes / Q000502:physiology*; D010831:Phytanic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; C107623:pristanal; D010831:Phytanic Acid