ABSTRACT
Hydrophobic moieties in lipid molecules are often composed of a fatty acid consisting of a hydrocarbon chain and carboxylic acid. Fatty acids generally combine with glycerin to form acylglycerol, which accumulates in cells and/or plant seeds as an energy storage. Fatty acids are also constituents of the phospholipid hydrophobic layer of the cell membrane. The various species of fatty acids differ with regard to the length of the carbon chain, the degree of desaturation, and type of modification such as epoxidation, hydroxylation, and conjugation.1 The physicochemical properties of fatty acids, ranging from regulation of membrane functions to maintenance of cell homeostasis, differ with respect to structure. Recent studies demonstrated that some kinds of fatty acids are participants in the intracellular signaling pathways. They act as ligands for nuclear receptors regulating cell responses and modulate eicosanoid metabolism in cells of the immune system.2 Fatty acids also have nonphysiological uses, and demand for fatty acids for use as industrial raw materials for detergents, lubricating oils, coating agents, and cosmetics is rising.
