Application Notes:
Omega-oxidation is a minor fatty acid pathway used for fatty acid metabolism and usually occurs in the smooth endoplasmic
reticulum. Docosanoic acid is enzymaticaly converted to the 22-hydroxydocosanoic acid as well as to the docosanoic
dicarboxylic acid as part of the omega-oxidation metabolic pathway.1 22-Hydroxydocosanoic acid is the major aliphatic
constituent of green cotton fibers but a very minor component of white cotton fibers.2 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
References:
1. R. Sanders et al. “Evidence for two enzymatic pathways for omega-oxidation of docosanoic acid in
rat liver microsomes” Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 46(5) pp. 1001-1008, 2005
2. L. Yatsu, K. Espelie, P. Kolattukudy “Ultrastructural and chemical evidence that the cell wall of green cotton fiber is suberized” Plant Physiology, Vol.
73(2) pp. 521-524, 1983
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