Odd-chain fatty acid

Margaric acid with its seventeen carbon atoms is an important odd-chain fatty acid.

Odd-chain fatty acids are those fatty acids that contain an odd number of carbon atoms. In addition to being classified according to their saturation or unsaturation, fatty acids are also classified according to their odd or even numbers of constituent carbon atoms. With respect to natural abundance, most fatty acids are even chain, e.g. palmitic (C16) and stearic (C18). In terms of physical properties, odd and even fatty acids are similar, generally being colorless, soluble in alcohols, and often somewhat oily.[1] The odd-chain fatty acids are biosynthesized and metabolized slightly differently from the even-chained relatives. In addition to the usual C12-C22 long chain fatty acids, some very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are also known. Some of these VLCFAs are also of the odd-chain variety.[2]

  1. ^ Smith S (December 1994). "The animal fatty acid synthase: one gene, one polypeptide, seven enzymes". FASEB Journal. 8 (15): 1248–1259. doi:10.1096/fasebj.8.15.8001737. PMID 8001737. S2CID 22853095.
  2. ^ Rezanka T, Sigler K (2009). "Odd-numbered very-long-chain fatty acids from the microbial, animal and plant kingdoms". Progress in Lipid Research. 48 (3–4): 206–238. doi:10.1016/j.plipres.2009.03.003. PMID 19336244.