Myristic acid (IUPAC systematic name: 1-tetradecanoic acid) is a common saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula CH3(CH2)12COOH. Its salts and esters are commonly referred to as myristates. It is named after the binomial name for nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), from which it was first isolated in 1841 by Lyon Playfair.

Uses

Myristic acid is commonly added co-translationally to the penultimate, nitrogen-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.

Various "human epidemiological studies have shown that myristic acid and lauric acid were the saturated fatty acids most strongly related to the average serum cholesterol concentrations in humans", meaning they were positively correlated with higher cholesterol levels as well as raising triglycerides in plasma by some 20% increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, although some research points to myristic acid's positive effects on HDL cholesterol and hence improving HDL (good cholesterol) to total cholesterol ratio.

Reduction of myristic acid yields myristyl aldehyde and myristyl alcohol.

Specification: