1. Schematic of postulated membrane destabilization by very long chain fatty acids in ALD. As a result of the inability to import very long chain fatty acids into the peroxisome, they are not broken down into long chain fatty acids.
Schematic of postulated membrane destabilization by very long chain fatty acids in ALD. As a result of the inability to import very long chain fatty acids into the peroxisome, they are not broken down into long chain fatty acids. When the very long chain fatty acids (arrows) are incorporated into the bilaminar membrane of myelin, the thermodynamic stability of the membrane is lessened, theoretically making myelin easier to break down.
A. James Barkovich AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2000;21:
©2000 by American Society of Neuroradiology