Application Notes:
This odd numbered omega-hydroxy heptadecanoic acid is ideal as an internal standard for studies involving medium to longchain
omega-hydroxy fatty acids.1 omega-Hydroxy C17:0 fatty acid and other omega-hydroxy fatty acids can be lactonized
by certain enzymes into mono- and oligolactones.2 omega-Oxidation is a minor fatty acid pathway used for fatty acid
metabolism and usually occurs in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Stimulation of omega-hydroxylation has been
proposed as a method for treating X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, a disease that is characterized by elevated levels of very
long chain fatty acids.3 omega-Hydroxy fatty acids have an important role while acylated to various lipids. omega-
Hydroxylated very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) ceramides are vital to skin barrier functions and a deficiency of these
lipids can cause death from water loss through the skin. In atopic dermatitis, a common skin disease, there are considerable
deficiencies of omega-hydroxy long chain fatty acids acylated to ceramides and this may contribute to the severely damaged
permeability barrier found in this disease.4
References:
1. M. Nakano, E. Kelly, and A. Rettie “Expression and Characterization of CYP4V2 as a Fatty Acid alpha-Hydroxylase” Drug Metabolism and Disposition, vol.
37 pp. 2119-2122, 2009
2. U. Antczak et al. “Enzymatic lactonization of 15-hydroxypentadecanoic and 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acids to macrocyclic lactones” Enzyme and
Microbial Technology, vol. 13 pp. 589-593, 1991
3. R. Sanders et al. “Omega-Oxidation of Very Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Human Liver Microsomes: Implications for X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy”
Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 281 pp. 13180-13187, 2006
4. O. Macheleidt, H. Kaiser, K. Sandhoff “Deficiency of epidermal protein-bound omega-hydroxyceramides in atopic dermatitis” J Invest Dermatol., vol.
119 pp. 166-173, 2002