Fatty acid hydroxylase system in the Japanese harvest mouse, Micromys minutus

Abstract

Liver microsomes of the Japanese harvest mouse (Micromys minutus), which is the smallest known mammal among rodents, catalyze the hydroxylation of various fatty acids (C8 to C18) to the corresponding omega-hydroxy and (omega-1)-hydroxy derivatives. Although laurate is most effectively hydroxylated among saturated fatty acids by liver microsomes of other species, harvest mouse liver microsomes most effectively catalyze the hydroxylation of decanoate. From inhibitor and cofactor studies, and from the substrate specificity for hydroxylation, it was concluded that omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylation of fatty acids are catalyzed by different cytochrome P-450 species in the liver microsomes of the harvest mouse.