Work

Formic acid is a product of the α-oxidation of fatty acids by human skin fibroblasts: deficiency of formic acid production in peroxisome-deficient fibroblasts

Year: 1993

Type: article

Abstract: Human skin fibroblasts in culture can oxidize beta-methyl fatty acids, such as phytanic acid and 3-methylhexadecanoic acid, to CO2 and water-soluble products. The latter are released largely into the culture medium. The major water-soluble product formed from [1-14C]phytanic and [1-14C]3-methylhexadecanoic acids is [14C]formic acid. As phytanic acid and 3-methylhexadecanoic acids contain beta-methyl groups and theoretically cannot be degraded by beta-oxidation, we postulate that formic acid is formed from fatty acids by alpha-oxidation. The marked reduction in formic acid production from beta-methyl fatty acids in peroxisome-deficient skin fibroblasts suggests that peroxisomes are involved in the generation of C1 units.

Source: Biochemical Journal

DOI: 10.1042/bj2920457

Authors: A Poulos, P Sharp, H Singh, D W Johnson, W F Carey, C Easton

Institutions: Women's and Children's Hospital, Women's and Children's Health Network, The University of Adelaide

Language: English

Topic: Metabolism and Genetic Disorders

Subfield: Clinical Biochemistry

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W1500311202

FWCI: 4.022

Cites: 23

Cited by: 65

Related to: 10