About the structure and biological function of oxiFAL
Structure. Oxidized fatty aldehydes (oxiFAL) belong to the group of fatty aldehydes within the fatty acyls. Their structure is based on a fatty acid where the carboxyl group has been replaced with an aldehyde group. The hydrocarbon chain of oxiFALs further encompasses multiple oxygen containing substituents such as hydroxy and epoxy groups, and may feature one or multiple double bonds.
Function. Oxidized fatty aldehydes with six or nine carbon atoms such as 4-HNE and 4-HHE are the main volatile autooxidation products from the n-6 and n-3 families of polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are considered cytotoxic in cells which are not equipped to metabolize them as they influence cell viability and function. As such, oxiFALs are involved in various diseases, including diabetes, immunological, and age-related diseases.
