[New regulatory and signal functions for myristic acid].
Myristic acid is a 14 carbon saturated fatty acid, which is mostly found in milk fat. In industrialized countries, its excessive consumption is correlated with an increase in plasma cholesterol and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, one feature of this fatty acid is its ability to acylate proteins, a reaction which is called N-terminal myristoylation. This article describes various examples of important cellular regulations where the intervention of myristic acid is proven. Modulations of the cellular concentration of this fatty acid and its associated myristoylation function might be used as regulators of these metabolic pathways.
Beauchamp
Erwan
E
Laboratoire de Biochimie-Nutrition Humaine, Agrocampus Rennes-INRA USC 2012, 65, rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France.
Rioux
Vincent
V
Legrand
Philippe
P
D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019814:Myristic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology
D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019814:Myristic Acid; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases