Palmitic Acid (Palmitate, n-Hexadecanoic Acid)

Palmitic acid is a 16-carbon saturated fatty acid that is the end product of synthesis of the fatty acid synthase complex. Palmitic acid (as palmitoyl-CoA) is a starting substrate for synthesis of both longer chain fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids.

Palmitic acid (in the form of palimitoyl-CoA) is also a precursor of the sphingolipids (Figure 19.12).

See also: Fatty Acids, Table 10.1, Synthesis of Long Chain Fatty Acids, Fatty Acid Desaturation, Fatty Acid Synthase, Palmitate Synthesis from Acetyl-CoA