| fatty acid | <biochemistry> Any number of saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids. A metabolic byproduct from the breakdown of fats. Chemically R COOH where R is an aliphatic moiety. The common fatty acids of biological origin are linear chains with an even number of carbon atoms. Free fatty acids are present in living tissues at low concentrations. The esterified forms are important both as energy storage molecules and structural molecules. See: triglycerides, phospholipids. (15 Nov 1997) |
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| fatty acid 2-chloroethyl ester synthase | <enzyme> Catalyses the formation of 2-chloroethyl esters of long-chain fatty acids; localised in the microsomal fraction of rat liver Registry number: EC 2.3.1.- Synonym: facees, 2-chloroethyl ester synthase (26 Jun 1999) |
| fatty-acid amide hydrolase | <enzyme> Degrades neuromodulatory fatty-acid amides; genbank u72497 Registry number: EC 3.5.1.- Synonym: oleamide hydrolase, faah protein, fatty acid amide hydrolase (26 Jun 1999) |
| fatty acid binding protein | A fatty acid-binding protein that participates in the intracellular movement of fatty acids. Synonym: fatty acid binding protein. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fatty acid binding proteins | <biochemistry> Group of small cytosolic proteins that bind fatty acids or other organic solutes. (18 Nov 1997) |
| fatty acid desaturases | <enzyme> Enzymes that catalyze the conversion of saturated fatty acid CoA complexes to unsaturated fatty acid CoA complexes in the presence of any acceptor. Registry number: EC 1.14.99.- (12 Dec 1998) |
| fatty acid methyltransferase | <enzyme> Catalyses the reaction of s-adenosylmethionine and a fatty acid to yield s-adenosylhomocysteine and a fatty acid methyl ester; calcium and calmodulin insensitive Registry number: EC 2.1.1.15 (26 Jun 1999) |
| fatty acid oxidation cycle | A series of reactions involving acyl-coenzyme A compounds, whereby these undergo beta oxidation and thioclastic cleavage, with the formation of acetyl-coenzyme A; the major pathway of fatty acid catabolism in living tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fatty acid reductase | <enzyme> Catalyses reduction of fatty acids to aldehydes Registry number: EC 1.2.1.- (26 Jun 1999) |
| fatty acids | Organic, monobasic acids derived from hydrocarbons by the equivalent of oxidation of a methyl group to an alcohol, aldehyde, and then acid. Fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated (fatty acids, unsaturated). (12 Dec 1998) |
| fatty acids, essential | Fatty acids that cannot be synthesised by the human body and must be obtained from dietary sources, e.g., linoleic acids and linolenic acids. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fatty acids, monounsaturated | Fatty acids which are unsaturated in only one position. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fatty acids, nonesterified | The fraction of plasma fatty acids that are not in the form of glycerol esters. They are also called free fatty acids, but this is a misnomer because they are transported complexed with albumin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fatty acids, omega-3 | A group of fatty acids, often of marine origin, which have the first unsaturated bond in the third position from the omega carbon. These fatty acids are believed to reduce serum triglycerides, prevent insulin resistance, improve lipid profile, prolong bleeding times, reduce platelet counts, and decrease platelet adhesiveness. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fatty acids, unsaturated | Fatty acids containing one (monounsaturated) or multiple (polyunsaturated) double bonds. They predominate in most plant-derived fats. The number and position of each double bond can be specified, as in the systematic names, or the position of the double bond closest to the methyl group (omega) terminus can be specified to denote functional subdivisions of the overall group, e.g., omega-3 fatty acids. The numbers and positions of the double bonds have been linked to effects on plasma lipid, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. (12 Dec 1998) |