Very long chain fatty acid
A very-long-chain fatty acid is a fatty acid with 22 or more carbons. Their biosynthesis occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum. VLCFA's can represent up to a few percent of the total fatty acid content of a cell.
Unlike most fatty acids, VLCFAs are too long to be metabolized in the mitochondria, and must be metabolized in peroxisomes.
Certain peroxisomal disorders, such as adrenoleukodystrophy and Zellweger syndrome, can be associated with an accumulation of VLCFAs.Major VLCFAs
Some of the more common saturated VLCFAs: lignoceric acid, cerotic acid, montanic acid, melissic acid , lacceroic acid, ghedoic acid, and the odd-chain fatty acid ceroplastic acid. Several monounsaturated VLCFAs are also known: nervonic acid, ximenic acid, and llumequeic acid.
