FA2H: Proteins and Enzymes

Sphingolipids are a large class of lipids found in all eukaryotic cells and are involved in numerous cellular processes. The structural diversity of sphingolipids stems from more than 300 distinct head groups, as well as from modifications of the hydrophobic ceramide moiety. FA2H catalyzes a common modification of the ceramide moiety: hydroxylation at the 2 position of the N-acyl chain. Sphingolipids containing 2-hydroxy fatty acid are common in nervous and epidermal tissue. Glycosphingolipids containing a high proportion of 2-hydroxy fatty acid are critical components of myelin, and several very long chain ceramides with 2-hydroxy fatty acids are important for the permeability barrier function of epidermis (Alderson et al., 2004 [PubMed 15337768]).[supplied by OMIM]