myristoylgrupp

Myristoylgrupp refers to the myristoyl group, a fatty acyl group derived from myristic acid. Myristic acid is a saturated fatty acid with a chain length of 14 carbon atoms, also known as tetradecanoic acid. The myristoyl group is typically represented by the chemical formula CH3(CH2)12CO-.

In biochemistry and organic chemistry, the myristoyl group can be attached to other molecules through an ester or amide linkage. This process is known as myristoylation. Myristoylation is a post-translational modification that occurs on proteins. In this modification, a myristoyl group is covalently attached to the N-terminus of a protein, usually to a glycine residue. This lipidation serves to anchor proteins to cell membranes, influencing their localization, stability, and function. Many cellular proteins involved in signal transduction pathways and protein trafficking are known to be myristoylated. The myristoyl group increases the hydrophobicity of the protein, facilitating its interaction with lipid bilayers. The myristoylation process is often irreversible.