caprate (10:0)

caprate (10:0) (CAS No.: 334-48-5) is a saturated medium-chain fatty acid belonging to the class of straight-chain aliphatic fatty acids, commonly found as a constituent of medium-chain triglycerides and widely utilized as a biochemical tool in lipid metabolism and signaling research. As a bioactive lipid, it has been characterized as a brain-penetrant, non-competitive antagonist of AMPA-type glutamate receptors, enabling its use in studies of excitatory neurotransmission and neuronal signaling, with functional activity typically observed in the low micromolar range in in vitro systems. In addition to its effects on ionotropic glutamate receptors, caprate (10:0) has been reported to modulate multiple biological targets, including enzymes such as furin, octanoyltransferase, and 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase 1, as well as proteins involved in microbial interactions and host-pathogen biology. It also influences cellular processes such as melanin biosynthesis through the reduction of tyrosinase activity and inhibition of melanosome maturation, and has been shown in cellular models to suppress c-Met phosphorylation and alter oncogenic signaling pathways, including those associated with mTORC1, thereby supporting investigations into cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolic regulation. Owing to these diverse biochemical activities, caprate (10:0) is frequently applied in cell-based assays, enzymatic studies, and animal models to explore lipid-mediated signaling, metabolic reprogramming, and receptor pharmacology, with experimental concentrations or dosing regimens varying according to specific study designs and research objectives.