title: The biological significance of ω-oxidation of fatty acids.
abstract: The author focuses on the biological significance of ω-oxidation of fatty acids. Early studies revealed that there is a subsidiary pathway for β-oxidation of fatty acids when β-oxidation is blocked. Many studies demonstrated that the ω-oxidation serves to provide succinyl-CoA for the citric acid cycle and for gluconeogenesis under conditions of starvation and diabetes. Acylglucosylceramides which are composed of linoleic acid, long chain ω-hydroxy fatty acids, eicosasphingenine (or trihydroxyeicosasphingenine) and glucose, are responsible for normal epidermal permeability function in the skin. It is observed that ω- and (ω-1)-oxidation of fatty acids are related to energy metabolism in some laboratory animals such as musk shrews and Mongolian gerbils. Studies confirmed that ω- and (ω-1)-oxidation of fatty acids play crucial roles in the production of insect pheromones of honeybees and in the formation of biopolyesters of higher plants. In addition, the biological significance of ω-oxidation of prostaglandins and leukotrienes is described.
authors.affiliation: Teikyo University.
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007313:Insecta / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D006017:Glycolipids