Methyl 2-hydroxydodecanoate

alpha-Hydroxy fatty acids are abundant in nervous tissues and are components of cerebrosides and sulfatides, which are mostly found in the myelin of nervous tissues. They are common in cosmetics, skin creams, and lotions. 2-hydroxy acids display complex monolayer phase behavior due to the additional hydrogen bonding afforded by the presence of the second hydroxy group and therefore play an important role in the membrane structure.1 2-hydroxydodecanoic acid demonstrates antifungal properties, although to a lesser extent than 3-hydroxy fatty acids.2 2-Hydroxydodecanoic acid (along with 2- hydroxytetradecanoic acid) induced a hyphal growth response of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Gigaspora gigantean while other 2-hydroxy, 3-hydroxy, and non-hydroxy fatty acids did not. This indicates that 2-hydroxy fatty acids are a putative category of root exudate signal perceived by Gigaspora species, stimulating an increase in elongated lateral branches.3 alpha-Oxidation of 2-hydroxy fatty acids to CO2 and saturated acids occurs in the peroxisome and is unique from the alpha-oxidation of beta-carbon branched fatty acids such as phytanic acid. Cells from Zellweger syndrome and peroxisome-deficient cells are unable to undergo alpha-oxidation although patients with other peroxisomal disorders such as X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, Refsum disease, and rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata are able to.4