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Record Information
Version5.0
StatusDetected and Quantified
Creation Date2005-11-16 15:48:42 UTC
Update Date2022-09-22 17:43:44 UTC
HMDB IDHMDB0000801
Secondary Accession Numbers
  • HMDB00801
Metabolite Identification
Common NamePhytanic acid
DescriptionPhytanic acid (or 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic acid) is a 20-carbon branched-chain fatty acid that humans can obtain through the consumption of dairy products, ruminant animal fats, and certain fish. It is primarily formed by bacterial degradation of chlorophyll in the intestinal tract of ruminants. Unlike most fatty acids, phytanic acid cannot be metabolized by beta-oxidation (because of a methyl group in the beta position). Instead, it undergoes alpha-oxidation in the peroxisome, where it is converted into pristanic acid by the removal of one carbon. Pristanic acid can undergo several rounds of beta-oxidation in the peroxisome to form medium-chain fatty acids that can be converted into carbon dioxide and water in mitochondria. Refsum disease, an autosomal recessive neurological disorder caused by mutations in the PHYH gene, is characterized by having impaired alpha-oxidation activity. Individuals with Refsum disease accumulate large stores of phytanic acid in their blood and tissues. This frequently leads to peripheral polyneuropathy, cerebellar ataxia, retinitis pigmentosa, anosmia, and hearing loss. Therefore, chronically high levels of phytanic acid can be neurotoxic. Phytanic acid's neurotoxicity appears to lie in its ability to initiate astrocyte/neural cell death by activating the mitochondrial route of apoptosis. In particular, phytanic acid can induce the substantial generation of reactive oxygen species in isolated mitochondria as well as in intact cells. It also induces the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria.
Structure
Data?1582752157
Synonyms
ValueSource
3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl hexadecanoic acidChEBI
3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-hexadecanoic acidChEBI
3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-hexadecansaeureChEBI
3,7,11,15-Tetramethylhexadecanoic acidKegg
3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl hexadecanoateGenerator
3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-hexadecanoateGenerator
3,7,11,15-TetramethylhexadecanoateGenerator
PhytanateGenerator
3,7,11,15-TetramethylhexadecoanoateHMDB
3,7,11,15-Tetramethylhexadecoanoic acidHMDB
PhytanoateHMDB
Phytanoic acidHMDB
Acid, phytanicHMDB
Chemical FormulaC20H40O2
Average Molecular Weight312.5304
Monoisotopic Molecular Weight312.302830524
IUPAC Name3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic acid
Traditional Namephytanic acid
CAS Registry Number14721-66-5
SMILES
CC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CCCC(C)CC(O)=O
InChI Identifier
InChI=1S/C20H40O2/c1-16(2)9-6-10-17(3)11-7-12-18(4)13-8-14-19(5)15-20(21)22/h16-19H,6-15H2,1-5H3,(H,21,22)
InChI KeyRLCKHJSFHOZMDR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Chemical Taxonomy
Description Belongs to the class of organic compounds known as acyclic diterpenoids. These are diterpenoids (compounds made of four consecutive isoprene units) that do not contain a cycle.
KingdomOrganic compounds
Super ClassLipids and lipid-like molecules
ClassPrenol lipids
Sub ClassDiterpenoids
Direct ParentAcyclic diterpenoids
Alternative Parents
Substituents
  • Acyclic diterpenoid
  • Long-chain fatty acid
  • Methyl-branched fatty acid
  • Branched fatty acid
  • Fatty acyl
  • Fatty acid
  • Monocarboxylic acid or derivatives
  • Carboxylic acid
  • Carboxylic acid derivative
  • Organic oxygen compound
  • Organic oxide
  • Hydrocarbon derivative
  • Organooxygen compound
  • Carbonyl group
  • Aliphatic acyclic compound
Molecular FrameworkAliphatic acyclic compounds
External Descriptors
Ontology
Not AvailableNot Available
Physical Properties
StateSolid
Experimental Molecular Properties
PropertyValueReference
Melting PointNot AvailableNot Available
Boiling PointNot AvailableNot Available
Water Solubility0.0011 mg/L @ 25 °C (est)The Good Scents Company Information System
LogPNot AvailableNot Available
Experimental Chromatographic Properties

Experimental Collision Cross Sections

Adduct TypeData SourceCCS Value (Å2)Reference
[M-H]-MetCCS_train_neg183.17230932474
[M-H]-Not Available183.172http://allccs.zhulab.cn/database/detail?ID=AllCCS00000217
Predicted Molecular Properties
Predicted Chromatographic Properties
Spectra
Biological Properties
Cellular Locations
  • Cytoplasm
  • Extracellular
  • Membrane
  • Peroxisome
Biospecimen Locations
  • Blood
  • Feces
  • Urine
Tissue Locations
  • Fibroblasts
  • Liver
  • Neuron
  • Prostate
Pathways
Normal Concentrations
Abnormal Concentrations
Associated Disorders and Diseases
Disease References
Refsum's disease
  1. Wierzbicki AS, Mayne PD, Lloyd MD, Burston D, Mei G, Sidey MC, Feher MD, Gibberd FB: Metabolism of phytanic acid and 3-methyl-adipic acid excretion in patients with adult Refsum disease. J Lipid Res. 2003 Aug;44(8):1481-8. Epub 2003 Apr 16. [PubMed:12700346 ]
  2. Poulos A, Sharp P, Fellenberg AJ, Danks DM: Cerebro-hepato-renal (Zellweger) syndrome, adrenoleukodystrophy, and Refsum's disease: plasma changes and skin fibroblast phytanic acid oxidase. Hum Genet. 1985;70(2):172-7. [PubMed:2408988 ]
  3. Skjeldal OH, Stokke O, Refsum S, Norseth J, Petit H: Clinical and biochemical heterogeneity in conditions with phytanic acid accumulation. J Neurol Sci. 1987 Jan;77(1):87-96. [PubMed:2433405 ]
Infantile Refsum's disease
  1. Poll-The BT, Saudubray JM, Ogier H, Schutgens RB, Wanders RJ, Schrakamp G, van den Bosch H, Trijbels JM, Poulos A, Moser HW, et al.: Infantile Refsum's disease: biochemical findings suggesting multiple peroxisomal dysfunction. J Inherit Metab Dis. 1986;9(2):169-74. [PubMed:2427795 ]
  2. Poulos A, Sharp P, Fellenberg AJ, Danks DM: Cerebro-hepato-renal (Zellweger) syndrome, adrenoleukodystrophy, and Refsum's disease: plasma changes and skin fibroblast phytanic acid oxidase. Hum Genet. 1985;70(2):172-7. [PubMed:2408988 ]
Adrenoleukodystrophy
  1. Poulos A, Sharp P, Fellenberg AJ, Danks DM: Cerebro-hepato-renal (Zellweger) syndrome, adrenoleukodystrophy, and Refsum's disease: plasma changes and skin fibroblast phytanic acid oxidase. Hum Genet. 1985;70(2):172-7. [PubMed:2408988 ]
  2. G.Frauendienst-Egger, Friedrich K. Trefz (2017). MetaGene: Metabolic & Genetic Information Center (MIC: http://www.metagene.de). METAGENE consortium.
Peroxisomal biogenesis defect
  1. Baumgartner MR, Poll-The BT, Verhoeven NM, Jakobs C, Espeel M, Roels F, Rabier D, Levade T, Rolland MO, Martinez M, Wanders RJ, Saudubray JM: Clinical approach to inherited peroxisomal disorders: a series of 27 patients. Ann Neurol. 1998 Nov;44(5):720-30. [PubMed:9818927 ]
  2. Mandel H, Espeel M, Roels F, Sofer N, Luder A, Iancu TC, Aizin A, Berant M, Wanders RJ, Schutgens RB: A new type of peroxisomal disorder with variable expression in liver and fibroblasts. J Pediatr. 1994 Oct;125(4):549-55. [PubMed:7931872 ]
  3. Budden SS, Kennaway NG, Buist NR, Poulos A, Weleber RG: Dysmorphic syndrome with phytanic acid oxidase deficiency, abnormal very long chain fatty acids, and pipecolic acidemia: studies in four children. J Pediatr. 1986 Jan;108(1):33-9. [PubMed:2418187 ]
Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata
  1. Baumgartner MR, Poll-The BT, Verhoeven NM, Jakobs C, Espeel M, Roels F, Rabier D, Levade T, Rolland MO, Martinez M, Wanders RJ, Saudubray JM: Clinical approach to inherited peroxisomal disorders: a series of 27 patients. Ann Neurol. 1998 Nov;44(5):720-30. [PubMed:9818927 ]
Peroxisomal disorders, new type, liver
  1. Mandel H, Espeel M, Roels F, Sofer N, Luder A, Iancu TC, Aizin A, Berant M, Wanders RJ, Schutgens RB: A new type of peroxisomal disorder with variable expression in liver and fibroblasts. J Pediatr. 1994 Oct;125(4):549-55. [PubMed:7931872 ]
  2. G.Frauendienst-Egger, Friedrich K. Trefz (2017). MetaGene: Metabolic & Genetic Information Center (MIC: http://www.metagene.de). METAGENE consortium.
Alpha-Methylacyl-CoA racemase deficiency
  1. McLean BN, Allen J, Ferdinandusse S, Wanders RJ: A new defect of peroxisomal function involving pristanic acid: a case report. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2002 Mar;72(3):396-9. [PubMed:11861706 ]
Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis
  1. Siman-Tov T, Meiner V, Gadoth N: Could steroids mask the diagnosis of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis? J Neurol Sci. 2006 Apr 15;243(1-2):83-6. Epub 2006 Jan 30. [PubMed:16445943 ]
Pseudoneonatal adrenoleukodystrophy
  1. Poll-The BT, Roels F, Ogier H, Scotto J, Vamecq J, Schutgens RB, Wanders RJ, van Roermund CW, van Wijland MJ, Schram AW, et al.: A new peroxisomal disorder with enlarged peroxisomes and a specific deficiency of acyl-CoA oxidase (pseudo-neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy). Am J Hum Genet. 1988 Mar;42(3):422-34. [PubMed:2894756 ]
Colorectal cancer
  1. Brown DG, Rao S, Weir TL, O'Malia J, Bazan M, Brown RJ, Ryan EP: Metabolomics and metabolic pathway networks from human colorectal cancers, adjacent mucosa, and stool. Cancer Metab. 2016 Jun 6;4:11. doi: 10.1186/s40170-016-0151-y. eCollection 2016. [PubMed:27275383 ]
  2. Goedert JJ, Sampson JN, Moore SC, Xiao Q, Xiong X, Hayes RB, Ahn J, Shi J, Sinha R: Fecal metabolomics: assay performance and association with colorectal cancer. Carcinogenesis. 2014 Sep;35(9):2089-96. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgu131. Epub 2014 Jul 18. [PubMed:25037050 ]
Associated OMIM IDs
  • 266500 (Refsum's disease)
  • 266510 (Infantile Refsum's disease)
  • 300100 (Adrenoleukodystrophy)
  • 214100 (Peroxisomal biogenesis defect)
  • 215100 (Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata)
  • 614307 (Alpha-Methylacyl-CoA racemase deficiency)
  • 213700 (Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis)
  • 264470 (Pseudoneonatal adrenoleukodystrophy)
  • 114500 (Colorectal cancer)
DrugBank IDNot Available
Phenol Explorer Compound IDNot Available
FooDB IDFDB022252
KNApSAcK IDNot Available
Chemspider ID25001
KEGG Compound IDC01607
BioCyc IDNot Available
BiGG ID37991
Wikipedia LinkPhytanic acid
METLIN ID5765
PubChem Compound26840
PDB IDNot Available
ChEBI ID16285
Food Biomarker OntologyNot Available
VMH IDCE2414
MarkerDB IDMDB00000257
Good Scents IDrw1438851
References
Synthesis ReferenceKarrer, P.; Epprecht, A.; Konig, Hans. General method of preparation for 2-methyl-3-alkylnaphthoquinones. Constitution and vitamin K activity. Helvetica Chimica Acta (1940), 23 272-83.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)Download (PDF)
General References