Elementary plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2+1)

ɷ-Oxidation

• ɷ-Oxidation is normally a very minor pathway brought about by hydroxylase enzymes involving cytochrome P 450 in the endoplasmic reticulum.
• Fatty acids with oxygen function (alcoholic or carboxyl) at the methyl terminal end (ɷ end) are formed by ɷ- oxidation and frequently occur as constituents of cutin and suberin.
• The requirements for the oxygenase mediated conversion of a ɷ- methyl fatty acyl CoA into a ɷ hydroxymethyl fatty acyl CoA are molecular oxygen, reduced pyridine nucleotide and a non-heme iron protein in higher plants.