Meta-Biol

• Pathways

DHCA (3alpha, 7alpha-dihydroxy-5beta-cholestanoate) is translocated from the mitochondrial matrix to the cytosol. The transporter that mediates its passage across the inner mitochondrial membrane has not been identified. In particular, despite the structural and functional similarities between DHCA and long chain fatty acids, searches for carnitine - DHCA have failed (Russell 2003). VLCS (SLC27A2), one of the enzymes that catalyzes CoA conjugation of DHCA, may also be present in peroxisomes, and Mihalik et al. (2002) have hypothesized that DHCA could be translocated unchanged from the mitochondrial matrix to the peroxisomal matrix and undergo conjugation there.