The role of 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA lyase, a thiamin pyrophosphate-dependent enzyme, in the peroxisomal metabolism of 3-methyl-branched fatty acids and 2-hydroxy straight-chain fatty acids

2-Hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA lyase (abbreviated as 2-HPCL), renamed to 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA lyase (abbreviated as HACL1), is the first peroxisomal enzyme in mammals that has been found to be dependent on TPP (thiamin pyrophosphate). It was discovered in 1999, when studying alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid. HACL1 has an important role in at least two pathways: (i) the degradation of 3-methyl-branched fatty acids like phytanic acid and (ii) the shortening of 2-hydroxy long-chain fatty acids. In both cases, HACL1 catalyses the cleavage step, which involves the splitting of a carbon-carbon bond between the first and second carbon atom in a 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA intermediate leading to the production of an (n-1) aldehyde and formyl-CoA. The latter is rapidly converted into formate and subsequently to CO(2). HACL1 is a homotetramer and has a PTS (peroxisomal targeting signal) at the C-terminal side (PTS1). No deficiency of HACL1 has been described yet in human, but thiamin deficiency might affect its activity.