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Phytanic acid alpha-hydroxylation by bacterial cytochrome P450
I Matsunaga1, T Sumimoto, E Kusunose
1Department of Molecular Regulation, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan. matsunagai@msic.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Lipids
|February 4, 1999
Summary
This study shows that a bacterial enzyme, fatty acid alpha-hydroxylase, can metabolize phytanic acid, a branched-chain fatty acid. This enzyme oxidizes phytanic acid into 2-hydroxyphytanic acid, offering insights into fatty acid metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Enzymology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Fatty acid alpha-hydroxylase is a cytochrome P450 enzyme.
- This enzyme typically metabolizes straight-chain fatty acids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if a recombinant fatty acid alpha-hydroxylase can metabolize phytanic acid, a methyl-branched fatty acid.
- To identify the metabolic product of phytanic acid by this enzyme.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of phytanic acid with recombinant fatty acid alpha-hydroxylase and hydrogen peroxide.
- Analysis of reaction products using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
- Determination of kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax).
Main Results:
- A reaction product was detected only in the presence of active enzyme and H2O2.
- GC-MS analysis identified the product as 2-hydroxyphytanic acid methyl ester.
- The enzyme exhibited a Km for phytanic acid similar to myristic acid, but a lower Vmax.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial cytochrome P450 enzymes can oxidize phytanic acid.
- The oxidation product is 2-hydroxyphytanic acid.
- This finding expands the known substrate range for fatty acid alpha-hydroxylase.