2-Hydroxy very long chain fatty acids are abundant in nervous tissues and are components of cerebrosides and sulfatides, which are mostly found in the myelin of nervous tissues. 2-Hydroxyeicosanoic acid has been reported in the marine sponge Verongula gigantean.1 2-Hydroxy fatty acids are common in cosmetics and skin creams and lotions. They are formed by the oxidation of saturated fatty acids by the enzyme fatty acid 2-hydroxylase. This enzyme is also responsible for the formation of 2-hydroxy galactolipids in the peripheral nervous system.2 alpha-Oxidation of 2-hydroxy fatty acids to CO2 and fatty acid occurs in the peroxisome and is unique from the alpha-oxidation of beta-carbon branched fatty acids such as phytanic acid. Cells from Zellweger syndrome and peroxisome-deficient cells are unable to undergo alpha-oxidation although patients with other peroxisomal disorders such as X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, Refsum disease, and rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata are able.3 2-Hydroxy fatty acids are undergoing much research and various methods of analysis are being investigated.4
