Resolution of the Phytanic Acid α-Oxidation Pathway: Identification of Pristanal as Product of the Decarboxylation of 2-Hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA

The structure and enzymology of the phytanic acid α-oxidation pathway have long remained an enigma. Recent studies have shown that phytanic acid first undergoes activation to its coenzyme A ester, followed by hydroxylation to 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA. In this paper we have studied the mechanism of dec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical and biophysical research communications 1997-08, Vol.237 (1), p.33-36
Main Authors: Verhoeven, N.M., Schor, D.S.M., ten Brink, H.J., Wanders, R.J.A., Jakobs, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aldehydes - analysis
Coenzyme A - metabolism
Decarboxylation
Fatty Acids - analysis
Humans
Liver - metabolism
Microbodies - metabolism
Models, Chemical
Oxidation-Reduction
Phytanic Acid - analogs & derivatives
Phytanic Acid - metabolism
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Summary:The structure and enzymology of the phytanic acid α-oxidation pathway have long remained an enigma. Recent studies have shown that phytanic acid first undergoes activation to its coenzyme A ester, followed by hydroxylation to 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA. In this paper we have studied the mechanism of decarboxylation of 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA in human liver. To this end, human liver homogenates were incubated with 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA in the presence or absence of NAD+. Hereafter, the medium was analyzed for the presence of pristanal and pristanic acid by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Our results show that pristanal is formed from 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA. Pristanal is subsequently oxidized to pristanic acid in a NAD+dependent reaction. These results finally resolve the mechanism of the phytanic acid α-oxidation process in human liver.
ISSN:0006-291X
1090-2104
DOI:10.1006/bbrc.1997.7066