Palmitoylcarnitine, a surface-active metabolite.
Palmitoylcarnitine is a well-known intermediate in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Less known are its properties as a surfactant, with a capacity to solubilize biological membranes similar to that of many synthetic detergents used in the biochemical laboratory. Some of the physico-chemical properties of palmitoylcarnitine may help to explain the need for coenzyme A-carnitine-coenzyme A acyl exchange during mitochondrial fatty acid import. The amphiphilic character of palmitoylcarnitine may also explain its proposed involvement in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia.
Goñi
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FM
Grupo Biomembranas, Unidad Asociada al CSIC, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Aptdo, Bilbao, Spain.
Requero
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MA
Alonso
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D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000378:metabolism; D003065:Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010172:Palmitoylcarnitine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
D005227:Fatty Acids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D010172:Palmitoylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine; D003065:Coenzyme A