Acid Esters
DETAIL
Uses
Myristoylation
Myristic acid is commonly added to the N-terminus glycine in receptor-associated kinases to confer the membrane localization 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.
Reduction of myristic acid yields myristyl aldehyde and myristyl alcohol.