Showing chemical card for Myristic acid (CFc000000643)
Record Information
Version
1.0
Creation Date
2022-08-28 10:25:12 UTC
Update Date
2022-09-13 18:45:05 UTC
Chemfont ID
CFc000000643
Molecule Identification
Common Name
Myristic acid
Definition
Myristic acid, also known as tetradecanoic acid or C14:0, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as long-chain fatty acids. These are fatty acids with an aliphatic tail that contains between 13 and 21 carbon atoms. Myristic acid (its ester is called myristate) is a saturated fatty acid that has 14 carbons; as such, it is a very hydrophobic molecule that is practically insoluble in water. It exists as an oily white crystalline solid. Myristic acid is found in all living organisms ranging from bacteria to plants to animals, and is found in most animal and vegetable fats, particularly butterfat, as well as coconut, palm, and nutmeg oils. Industrially, myristic acid is used to synthesize a variety of flavour compounds and as an ingredient in soaps and cosmetics (Dorland, 28th ed). Within eukaryotic cells, myristic acid is also commonly conjugated to a penultimate N-terminal glycine residue in receptor-associated kinases to confer membrane localization of these enzymes (a post-translational modification called myristoylation via the enzyme N-myristoyltransferase). Myristic acid has a high enough hydrophobicity to allow the myristoylated protein to become incorporated into the fatty acyl core of the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells. Also, this fatty acid is known because it accumulates as fat in the body; however, its consumption also impacts positively on cardiovascular health (see, for example, PMID: 15936650 ). Myristic acid is named after the scientific name for nutmeg, Myristica fragrans, from which it was first isolated in 1841 by Lyon Playfair.
Belongs to the class of organic compounds known as long-chain fatty acids. These are fatty acids with an aliphatic tail that contains between 13 and 21 carbon atoms.
Greaves, W. S.; Linstead, R. P.; Shephard, B. R.; Thomas, S. L. S.; Weedon, B. C. L. Anodic syntheses. I. New syntheses of stearic, myristic, and other acids. Journal of the Chemical Society (1950), 3326-30.