Definition
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. Fatty acids are a major component of the lipids in some species such as microalgae 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.
Related concepts
11,14,17-Eicosatrienoic acid11-Eicosenoic acid11-Hexadecenoic acid11-Tetradecenoic acid12-Octadecenoic acid4,7,10,13-Hexadecatetraenoic acid4,7-Decadienoic acid4-Hexadecenoic acid5,8,11-Tetradecatrienoic acid5-Octenoic acid6,9,12,15,18,21-Tetracosahexaenoic acid6,9,12,15-Eicosatetraenoic acid6,9-Dodecadienoic acid7,10,13-Eicosatrienoic acid7,10,13-Hexadecatrienoic acid7,10,13-Octadecatrienoic acid7-Decenoic acid8,11-Eicosadienoic acid8,11-Tetradecadienoic acid8-Eicosenoic acid8-Tetradecenoic acid9,12,15,18,21-Tetracosapentaenoic acid9,12,15-Eicosatrienoic acid9-Dodecenoic acidATP citrate lyaseAcetic acidAcetyl-CoAAcetyl-CoA carboxylaseAcid dissociation constantAcyl-CoAAdenosine triphosphateAdipocytesAdipose tissueAlbuminAlexandros MakriyannisAliphaticAlphaAnxiolyticArachidic acidArachidonic acidArgentation chromatographyAtopic dermatitisAzelaic acidBehenic acidBetaBeta-oxidationBeta oxidationBio-basedBiochemistryBiodieselBiosynthesisBlood fatty acidsBlood plasmaBlood–brain barrierBranched-chain fatty acidBranched chain fatty acidsBreast milkButterButyric acidCalendic acidCannabinoidCanolaCapric acidCaproic acidCaprylic acidCarboceric acidCarbonCarbonylationCarboxyl groupCarboxylic acidCarboxylic groupCell (biology)Cell membraneCell nucleusCell wallCellular differentiationCentral nervous systemCeramideCeroplastic acidCerotic acidCetoleic acidChemistryCholesterolCholesteryl esterChylomicronCirculatory systemCis-trans isomerismCis–trans isomerismCitric acidCitric acid cycleCoatingCocoa butterCoconut oilCondensed structural formulaCorn oilCorneocyteCottonseed oilCytosolDairy productDeep fryingDefoamerDelta (letter)Diet (nutrition)Diethylene glycolDigestionDihomo-linoleic acidDihomo-γ-linolenic acidDimer acidDocosahexaenoic acidDocosapentaenoic acidDocosatetraenoic acidDouble bondDuck fatE-Z notationEicosapentaenoic acidEicosatetraenoic acidElaidic acidElsevierEmulsionEnanthic acidEndoplasmic reticulumEnucleation (microbiology)EpidermisErucic acidEssential fatty acidEsterEsterificationEthanolEthylene glycolEuropean Journal of BiochemistryEvaporationFatFat hydrogenationFat interesterificationFatty acid metabolismFatty acid methyl esterFatty acid synthaseFatty acid synthesisFatty alcoholFatty aldehydeFatty amineFishFoodFree fatty acidsGadoleic acidGamma-Linolenic acidGas chromatographyGeddic acidGluconeogenesisGlucoseGlycerolGlycolysisGolgi apparatusGreek alphabetHemp oilHeneicosylic acidHentriacontylic acidHeptadecanoic acidHeptatriacontanoic acidHexatriacontylic acidHigh-performance liquid chromatographyHydrogenationHydrolysisHypogeic acidIUPACIUPAC nomenclatureIUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistryInflammationInfrared spectroscopyInteresterificationInternational Union of Pure and Applied ChemistryIntestinal villusIodine numberKetonic decarboxylationLacceroic acidLactealLactic acidLactobacillic acidLardLatin alphabetLauric acidLignoceric acidLinoleic acidLinolelaidic acidLipidLipolysisList of carboxylic acidsList of saturated fatty acidsList of unsaturated fatty acidsLiverLong-chain fatty acidsLow density lipoproteinLumequeic acidLymphaticMagnesium stearateMalateMalonyl-CoAMammalMammary glandMargaric acidMargarineMead acidMedium-chain fatty acidMedium-chain fatty acidsMedium-chain triglycerideMelissic acidMelting pointMetabolic intermediateMetallic soapMethylMethyl groupMethyl groupsMethylene bridgeMevalonic acidMichel Eugène ChevreulMitochondriaMitochondrionMonounsaturated fatMontanic acidMyristic acidMyristoleic acidNervonic acidNervous systemNociceptionNonacosylic acidNonadecylic acidNonanoic acidNonatriacontanoic acidObtusilic acidOctatriacontanoic acidOdd-chain fatty acidOdd numberOleic acidOleochemicalOlive oilOmegaOmega-10 fatty acidOmega-11 fatty acidOmega-12 fatty acidOmega-3Omega-3 fatty acidOmega-5 fatty acidOmega-6 fatty acidOmega-7 fatty acidOmega-9 fatty acidOmega−3 fatty acidOmega−6 fatty acidOmega−7 fatty acidOmega−9 fatty acidOrganelleOxaloacetic acidOxidative phosphorylationPHPalm kernel oilPalm oilPalmitic acidPalmitoleic acidPaullinic acidPelargonic acidPentacosylic acidPentadecanoic acidPentadecylic acidPergamonPeroxisomePetroselinic acidPhenolphthaleinPhospholipidPhospholipid bilayersPhytanic acidPhytanoyl-CoAPhytolPinolenic acidPolyethylene glycolPolyunsaturated fatPolyunsaturated fatty acidPortal veinPristanic acidPropionic acidPropionyl-CoAPsoriasisPsyllic acidPunicic acidPyruvic acidRancidificationReptileRumenic acidRuminantSafflower oilSapienic acidSaponificationSaturated and unsaturated compoundsSaturated fatSciadonic acidShort-chain fatty acidShort-chain fatty acidsSide groupSilica gelSoapSodium hydroxideSorbitolSoybean oilStearic acidStearidonic acidStraight-chain compoundStratum corneumSubclavian veinSulfur trioxideSunflower oilSystematic nameTallowTemperatureTetracontanoic acidThoracic ductTitrationTrans fatTransesterificationTransport proteinTricosylic acidTridecylic acidTriglycerideTrivial nameUllmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial ChemistryUndecylic acidUnsaturated compoundUnsaturated fatVaccenic acidValeric acidVegetable oilVery long chain fatty acidVery long chain fatty acidsVery low density lipoproteinVinyl acetateVitamin EWarm-bloodedWheat germ oilXimenic acidΑ-Eleostearic acidΑ-Linolenic acidΑ-Parinaric acidΒ-Eleostearic acidΓ-Linolenic acid
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