Three-dimensional representations of several fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids have perfectly straight chain structure. Unsaturated ones are typically bent, unless they have a trans configuration.
In chemistry, particularly in biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an unbranched chain of an even number of carbon atoms, from 4 to 28.[1] Fatty acids are a major component of the lipids (up to 70% by weight) in some species such as microalgae[2] but in some other organisms are not found in their standalone form, but instead exist as three main classes of esters: triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesteryl esters. In any of these forms, fatty acids are both important dietary sources of fuel for animals and important structural components for cells.
^Moss, G. P.; Smith, P. A. S.; Tavernier, D. (1997). "IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 67 (8–9). International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry: 1307–1375. doi:10.1351/pac199567081307. S2CID 95004254. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
^Chen, Lin (2012). "Biodiesel production from algae oil high in free fatty acids by two-step catalytic conversion". Bioresource Technology. 111: 208–214. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.033. PMID 22401712.
biochemistry, a fattyacid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fattyacids have an...
Only two fattyacids are known to be essential for humans: alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fattyacid) and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fattyacid). These...
biochemistry, fattyacid synthesis is the creation of fattyacids from acetyl-CoA and NADPH through the action of enzymes called fattyacid synthases. This...
Fattyacid metabolism consists of various metabolic processes involving or closely related to fattyacids, a family of molecules classified within the...
Saturated fattyacids are fattyacids that make up saturated fats. List of unsaturated fattyacids Carboxylic acid List of carboxylic acids Dicarboxylic acid...
essential fattyacids are known to be essential for humans: alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fattyacid) and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fattyacid). The biological...
following fattyacids have one unsaturated bond. Crotonic acid has 4 carbons, is included in croton oil, and is a trans-2-mono-unsaturated fattyacid. C3H5...
fat is a fat that contains a polyunsaturated fattyacid (abbreviated PUFA), which is a subclass of fattyacid characterized by a backbone with two or more...
and fatty amides. Fatty esters include important biochemical intermediates such as wax esters, fattyacid thioester coenzyme A derivatives, fattyacid thioester...
Trans fat, also called trans-unsaturated fattyacids, or trans fattyacids, is a type of unsaturated fat that occurs in foods. Trace concentrations of...
Fattyacid desaturases (also called unsaturases) are a family of enzymes that convert saturated fattyacids into unsaturated fattyacids and polyunsaturated...
Fattyacid degradation is the process in which fattyacids are broken down into their metabolites, in the end generating acetyl-CoA, the entry molecule...
In nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fattyacids, or a mixture of such compounds, most commonly those that occur in living...
shorter fattyacids. Animals synthesize even-numbered fattyacids, but bacteria possess the ability to synthesise odd- and branched-chain fattyacids. As...
contains a monounsaturated fattyacid (MUFA), a subclass of fattyacid characterized by having a double bond in the fattyacid chain with all of the remaining...
Stearic acid (/ˈstɪərɪk/ STEER-ik, /stiˈærɪk/ stee-ARR-ik) is a saturated fattyacid with an 18-carbon chain. The IUPAC name is octadecanoic acid. It is...
Linoleic acid (LA) is an organic compound with the formula HOOC(CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)4CH3. Both alkene groups (−CH=CH−) are cis. It is a fattyacid sometimes...
Palmitic acid (hexadecanoic acid in IUPAC nomenclature) is a fattyacid with a 16-carbon chain. It is the most common saturated fattyacid found in animals...
Oleic acid is a fattyacid that occurs naturally in various animal and vegetable fats and oils. It is an odorless, colorless oil, although commercial samples...
Fattyacid methyl esters (FAME) are a type of fattyacid ester that are derived by transesterification of fats with methanol. The molecules in biodiesel...
citric acid cycle. Acetyl-CoA may also be obtained from the oxidation of fattyacids. Below is a schematic outline of the cycle: The citric acid cycle...
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fattyacid that is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina. It is...
Arachidonic acid (AA, sometimes ARA) is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fattyacid 20:4(ω-6), or 20:4(5,8,11,14). It is formed by biosynthesis from linoleic acid in...
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