alpha-Hydroxy very long chain fatty acids are abundant in nervous tissues and are components of cerebrosides and sulfatides, which are mostly found in myelin of nervous tissues. They are common in cosmetics and skin creams and lotions. 2- hydroxydocosanoic acid has been reported in at least one marine organism. 2-Hydroxydocosanoic acid is formed by the oxidation of docosanoic acid by the enzyme fatty acid 2-hydroxylase. This enzyme is also responsible for the formation of 2- hydroxy galactolipids in the peripheral nervous system.1 lpha-Oxidation of 2-hydroxydocosanoic acid to CO2 and heneicosanoic acid occurs in the peroxisome and is unique from the lpha-oxidation of beta-carbon branched fatty acids such as phytanic acid. Cells from Zellweger syndrome and peroxisome-deficient cells are unable to undergo lpha-oxidation although patients with other peroxisomal disorders such as X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, Refsum disease, and rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata are able to.2 2-Hydroxydocosanoic acid is undergoing much research and various methods of analysis are being investigated.3
