1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol (CAS 60562-16-5)

1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol is a synthetic diacylglycerol where both hydroxyl groups on the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of glycerol are esterified with myristic acid, a saturated 14-carbon fatty acid. This structure categorizes it as a lipid molecule with specific interest in the areas of biochemistry and biophysics, particularly in the study of membrane dynamics and signaling pathways. In research, 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol is frequently utilized to mimic the lipid bilayer of cellular membranes, providing a simplified model to explore the fundamental properties of membrane lipids and their interactions with proteins and other biomolecules. This chemical is pivotal in studies related to the assembly of liposomes and the formation of lipid layers, which are essential for understanding the biophysical properties of cellular membranes such as phase behavior, permeability, and fluidity. Moreover, its role in signaling pathways is of key interest due to its structural similarity to naturally occurring signaling lipids, which allows researchers to dissect the mechanisms by which lipids influence cellular signaling events. This research has broad implications, aiding in the understanding of lipid-mediated processes at the molecular level, crucial for the development of non-medical applications in biotechnology and materials science.