Myristic Acid

Myristic Acid (CAS No.: 544-63-8) is a long-chain saturated fatty acid widely distributed in animal and plant lipids, including milk fat, coconut oil, palm oil, and nutmeg oil, and is commonly utilized in biomedical research as a representative lipid species for studying fatty acid metabolism and lipid-mediated signaling. As a 14-carbon fatty acid, it is metabolically converted to myristoyl-CoA, which serves as a substrate for N-myristoyltransferase-mediated protein myristoylation, a co- and post-translational modification that regulates protein localization, stability, and function, particularly in signaling pathways associated with cell growth, apoptosis, and membrane trafficking. Myristic acid has been shown to modulate inflammatory responses, in part through effects on NF-κB signaling, and exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities in experimental systems, with bioactivity typically observed in the low micromolar to millimolar concentration range depending on the assay context. In vitro and in vivo studies frequently employ this compound to investigate lipid-protein interactions, membrane dynamics, and metabolic regulation, as well as to model the biological effects of dietary saturated fatty acids. The concentrations or doses used in experiments typically depend on specific experimental designs and research objectives, particularly in studies of lipid metabolism, protein acylation, and inflammation-related signaling pathways.