Palmitate, also called n-hexadecanoate, is the dissociated and observed form of Palmitic Acid at physiological pH. Palmitate is the anion of a saturated 16 carbon fatty acid, and the first product of lipogenesis (Fatty Acid Synthesis).

Chemical Formula: CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COO⁻

In metabolism, palmitate negatively feeds back on Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC) which is responsible for converting acetyl-ACP to malonyl-ACP on the growing acyl chain. Thus preventing further palmitate generation.

Retinyl palmitate is an antioxidant and a source of vitamin A added to low fat milk to replace the vitamin content lost through the removal of milk fat. Palmitate is attached to the alcohol form of vitamin A, retinol, in order to make vitamin A stable in milk.

Palmitate is also the major component of palm oil. The word palmitate is from the French "palmitique", the pith of the palm tree.

[edit] Cetyl palmitate

The wax cetyl palmitate is an ester of cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid, C₁₅H₃₁COO-C₁₆H₃₃.

Stony corals, which build the coral reefs, evolved with large amounts of cetyl palmitate wax in their tissues. Most predators find this wax indigestible.

[edit] See also

• Spermaceti

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