The biological significance of ω-oxidation of fatty acids

Abstract

The author focuses on the biological significance of ω-oxidation of fatty acids. Early studies revealed that there is a subsidiary pathway for β-oxidation of fatty acids when β-oxidation is blocked. Many studies demonstrated that the ω-oxidation serves to provide succinyl-CoA for the citric acid cycle and for gluconeogenesis under conditions of starvation and diabetes. Acylglucosylceramides which are composed of linoleic acid, long chain ω-hydroxy fatty acids, eicosasphingenine (or trihydroxyeicosasphingenine) and glucose, are responsible for normal epidermal permeability function in the skin. It is observed that ω- and (ω-1)-oxidation of fatty acids are related to energy metabolism in some laboratory animals such as musk shrews and Mongolian gerbils. Studies confirmed that ω- and (ω-1)-oxidation of fatty acids play crucial roles in the production of insect pheromones of honeybees and in the formation of biopolyesters of higher plants. In addition, the biological significance of ω-oxidation of prostaglandins and leukotrienes is described.

Plasma acylcarnitine profiling indicates increased fatty acid oxidation relative to tricarboxylic acid cycle capacity in young, healthy low birth weight men

“…Also, an increased hepatic fatty acid load is expected to induce omega-oxidation (Patsouris et al 2006). Interestingly, omega-oxidation has been shown to be upregulated in experimental models of diabetes (Yoshioka et al 1994;Miura 2013) as well as in patients with diabetes (Lippe et al 1987). This, together with the present findings of a possible increase in omega-oxidation in LBW individuals, suggests that an increased omega-oxidation could be part of the metabolic phenotype of prediabetes and diabetes.…”

“…Interestingly, omega‐oxidation has been shown to be upregulated in experimental models of diabetes (Yoshioka et al. ; Miura ) as well as in patients with diabetes (Lippe et al. ).…”

Influence of Sex on Urinary Organic Acids: A Cross-Sectional Study in Children

“…The four dicarboxylic acids are differently affected by age and by sex. Suberate, a product of ω-oxidation [63,64], decreases with age only in males, while azelate, a product of colonic bacteria, and pimelate are age dependent only in females. Their urinary levels increase in disorders of mitochondrial β-oxidation and peroxisomal β-oxidation, for which they are very significant for diagnostic purposes [32].…”

Olfactory receptor 544 reduces adiposity by steering fuel preference toward fats

“…Although there has been no pharmacokinetic study of AzA and its bioavailability is unknown, the dose we selected ensures the EC 50 value in vivo, even if its bioavailability is assumed to be 1%. AzA can also be produced endogenously by hepatic ω-oxidation, which is stimulated under ketogenic conditions of starvation and diabetes (19) and may represent a fasting and ketogenic signal to promote FAO. AzA has been detected in humans (20), suggesting that it could be an important metabolic regulator in the fasting and ketogenic state and may be safe for use.…”