Methyl 13-methylmyristate (CAS 5129-59-9)

Methyl 13-methylmyristate is a branched-chain fatty acid methyl ester that has gained significant attention in lipid research due to its structural uniqueness and its impact on membrane dynamics and lipid metabolism. This compound, featuring a methyl group at the 13th carbon, is known to integrate into lipid bilayers, affecting their fluidity and phase behavior. Research indicates that the incorporation of methyl 13-methylmyristate into cellular membranes can influence the organization and function of membrane-associated proteins, including enzymes, receptors, and transporters. These changes can subsequently affect various cellular processes such as signal transduction and membrane transport. In metabolic studies, methyl 13-methylmyristate is utilized to investigate the activity and specificity of enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and modification, including elongases and desaturases. Its branched structure provides a valuable model for understanding the enzymatic pathways and regulatory mechanisms that produce and modify branched-chain fatty acids. Additionally, methyl 13-methylmyristate serves as a reference standard in analytical chemistry, particularly in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), for the identification and quantification of branched-chain fatty acids in complex biological samples. Overall, this compound is a crucial tool in lipidomics, advancing our knowledge of lipid metabolism, membrane structure, and the functional roles of branched-chain fatty acids in biological systems.