Reactome | Alpha-oxidation of phytanate

Alpha-oxidation of phytanate

Stable Identifier

R-HSA-389599

Type

Pathway

Species

Homo sapiens

Compartment

peroxisomal matrix

ReviewStatus

5/5

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Phytanic acid arises through ruminant metabolism of chlorophyll and enters the human diet as a constituent of dairy products (Baxter 1968). It can act as an agonist for PPAR and other nuclear hormone receptors, but its normal role in human physiology, if any, is unclear. It is catabolized via a five-step alpha-oxidation reaction sequence that yields pristanoyl-CoA, which is turn is a substrate for beta-oxidation. These reactions take place in the peroxisomal matrix and their failure is associated with Refsum disease (Wanders et al. 2003).

Literature References

PubMed ID	Title	Journal	Year
4177872	Absorption of chlorophyll phytol in normal man and in patients with Refsum's disease Baxter, JH	J Lipid Res	1968
12633678	Phytanic acid alpha-oxidation, new insights into an old problem: a review Jansen, GA, Wanders, RJA, Lloyd, MD	Biochim Biophys Acta	2003