This high purity fatty acid is ideal as a standard and for biological studies. Lignoceric acid (C24:0) and nervonic acid (C24:1) can make up as much as 60% of the fatty acids of certain lipid fractions in the white matter, gray matter, and myelin of the human brain.{50614} Sphingomyelin also contains significant amounts of both lignoceric and nervonic acids in other mammalian sources.{50615} Lignoceric acid is oxidized mainly in the peroxisomes in contrast to some of the other fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, which are oxidized in the mitochondria.{17236} In peroxisomal disorders, such as Zellweger cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, there is an accumulation of lignoceric acid along with other saturated very long-chain fatty acids due to peroxisomal dysfunctions. Lignoceric acid (as well as other saturated very long-chain fatty acids) promotes the growth of cotton fiber cell elongation (possibly by activating ethylene biosynthesis) and increases sphingolipid biosynthesis.{25599}
