16-(9-anthroyloxy)palmitic acid

Description

You're asking about **16-(9-anthroyloxy)palmitic acid**, which is a **fluorescent probe**. This means it's a molecule that can absorb light at a specific wavelength and then emit light at a different, longer wavelength.

Here's a breakdown of its components and significance:

* **Palmitic acid:** A saturated fatty acid commonly found in animal fats and plant oils. It's a long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxylic acid group at one end.
* **9-Anthroyloxy:** This part contains an anthracene group, which is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. The anthracene group is responsible for the molecule's fluorescence.
* **16-position:** The anthroyloxy group is attached to the 16th carbon atom of the palmitic acid chain. This specific location is chosen to ensure that the anthracene group is sufficiently distant from the carboxylic acid group, avoiding interference with its function.

**Why is it important for research?**

16-(9-anthroyloxy)palmitic acid is a valuable tool for studying **lipid dynamics** within biological membranes. Here's why:

* **Membrane Fluidity:** The fluorescence of the anthracene group is sensitive to its environment. Changes in membrane fluidity, such as those caused by temperature or the presence of different lipids, can affect the fluorescence properties of the probe. Researchers can monitor these changes to understand how membrane fluidity affects cellular processes.
* **Lipid-Protein Interactions:** The probe can be used to study how proteins interact with lipids in membranes. For example, if a protein binds to a region of the membrane where the probe is located, the fluorescence properties of the probe might change.
* **Lipid Diffusion and Transport:** The probe can be used to track the movement of lipids within membranes. This can help scientists understand how lipids are transported and distributed within cells.
* **Membrane Organization:** The probe can be used to study how lipids are organized within membranes. This can reveal the existence of lipid domains or microdomains within the membrane, which are important for various cellular functions.

**In summary:** 16-(9-anthroyloxy)palmitic acid is a valuable research tool for studying the structure, dynamics, and function of biological membranes. Its fluorescence properties make it a sensitive indicator of changes in membrane environment, lipid-protein interactions, and lipid movement.

16-(9-anthroyloxy)palmitic acid: RN & structure given in first source; RN not in Chemline 1/86 [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]