Myristic acid
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| Myristic acid | |
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| Chemical name | Tetradecanoic acid |
| Other names | myristic acid |
| Chemical formula | C14H28O2 |
| Molecular mass | 228.36 g/mol |
| CAS number | [544-63-8] |
| Density | 0.8622 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 58.8 °C |
| Boiling point | 250.5 °C at 100 mmHg |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O |
| Disclaimer and references | |
Myristic acid, also called tetradecanoic acid, is a common saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula CH3(CH2)12COOH found in dairy products. A myristate is a salt or ester of myristic acid.
Myristic acid is also commonly added co-translationally to the penultimate, nitrogen terminus, glycine in receptor-associated kinases to confer the membrane localisation of the enzyme. The myristic acid has a sufficiently high hydrophobicity to become incorporated into the fatty acyl core of the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane of the eukaryotic cell. In this way, myristic acid acts as a lipid anchor in biomembranes.
The ester isopropyl myristate is used in cosmetic and topical medicinal preparations where good absorption through the skin is desired.
Reduction of myristic acid yields myristyl alcohol.
[edit] References
- Merck Index, 11th Edition, 6246
[edit] External links
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