The enzyme, characterized from yeast and mammals, catalyses the hydroxylation of carbon 2 of long- or very-long-chain fatty acids attached to (4R)-4-hydroxysphinganine during de novo ceramide synthesis. The enzymes from yeast and from mammals contain an N-terminal cytochrome b5 domain that acts as the direct electron donor to the desaturase active site. The newly introduced 2-hydroxyl group has R-configuration. cf. EC 1.14.18.7, dihydroceramide fatty acyl 2-hydroxylase.
