Saturated fatty acids are synthesized by both plants and animals from acetyl coenzyme A as a form of long-term energy storage. Palmitic acid is a common 16-carbon saturated fat that represents 10-20% of the normal human dietary fat intake. Palmitic acid also makes up approximately 25% of the total plasma fatty acids in plasma lipoproteins.1 Saturated free fatty acids induce the expression of cyclooxygenase-2,2 and after protein acylation, are used to confer lipid anchoring to a variety of signaling molecules.3,4,5,6
1
Santos, M.J., López-Jurado, M., Llopis, J., et al. Influence of dietary supplementation with fish oil on plasma fatty acid composition in coronary heart disease patients. Ann Nutr Metab3952-62(1995).
2
Lee, J.Y., Sohn, K.H., Rhee, S.H., et al. Saturated fatty acids, but not unsaturated fatty acids, induced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 mediated through toll-like receptor 4. J Biol Chem276(20)16683-16689(2001).
3
Dietzen, D.J., Hastings, W.R., and Lublin, D.M. Caveolin is palmitoylated on multiple cysteine residues. Palmitoylation is not necessary for localization of caveolin to caveolae. J Biol Chem2706838-6842(1995).
4
Robinson, L.J., and Michel, T. Mutagenesis of palmitoylation sites in endothelial nitric oxide synthase identifies a novel motif for dual acylation and subcellular targeting. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA9211776-11780(1995).
5
Topinka, J.R., and Bredt, D.S. N-terminal palmitoylation of PSD-95 regulates association with cell membranes and interaction with K+ channel Kv1.4. Neuron20125-134(1998).
6
Miggin, S.M., Lawler, O.A., and Kinsella, B.T. Palmitoylation of the human prostacyclin receptor. Functional implications of palmitoylation and isoprenylation. J Biol Chem278(9)6947-6958(2003).
Formal Name
hexadecanoic acid
CAS Number
57-10-3
Molecular Formula
C16H32O2
Formula Weight
256.4
Formulation
A crystalline solid
Purity
>98%
Stability
2 years
Storage
-20°C
Shipping
Room temperature
in continental US; may vary elsewhere
SMILES
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CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(O)=O
Background Reading
Santos, M.J., López-Jurado, M., Llopis, J., et al. Influence of dietary supplementation with fish oil on plasma fatty acid composition in coronary heart disease patients. Ann Nutr Metab3952-62(1995).
Robinson, L.J., and Michel, T. Mutagenesis of palmitoylation sites in endothelial nitric oxide synthase identifies a novel motif for dual acylation and subcellular targeting. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA9211776-11780(1995).
Topinka, J.R., and Bredt, D.S. N-terminal palmitoylation of PSD-95 regulates association with cell membranes and interaction with K+ channel Kv1.4. Neuron20125-134(1998).
Lee, J.Y., Sohn, K.H., Rhee, S.H., et al. Saturated fatty acids, but not unsaturated fatty acids, induced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 mediated through toll-like receptor 4. J Biol Chem276(20)16683-16689(2001).
Miggin, S.M., Lawler, O.A., and Kinsella, B.T. Palmitoylation of the human prostacyclin receptor. Functional implications of palmitoylation and isoprenylation. J Biol Chem278(9)6947-6958(2003).
Dietzen, D.J., Hastings, W.R., and Lublin, D.M. Caveolin is palmitoylated on multiple cysteine residues. Palmitoylation is not necessary for localization of caveolin to caveolae. J Biol Chem2706838-6842(1995).