palmitoleatecontaining

Palmitoleatecontaining refers to molecules that include palmitoleic acid, a 16-carbon monounsaturated fatty acid, as one of their fatty acyl constituents. This descriptor is commonly used for lipids such as triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol esters in which a palmitoleoyl (16:1) chain is esterified to glycerol or cholesterol.

Palmitoleic acid (16:1Δ9, cis) is omega-7 and is produced endogenously from palmitic acid by stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) and supplied by the diet. Notable dietary sources include macadamia oil and sea buckthorn oil; it also occurs in various fish oils and dairy products.

In analytical lipidomics, palmitoleate-containing lipids are identified by determining the fatty acyl composition of lipids via GC-MS after derivatization or LC-MS. Researchers characterize these species by the presence and position of 16:1 chains in glycerolipids, and indices such as the 16:0/16:1 ratio are sometimes used as proxies for SCD-1 activity.

Biological significance of palmitoleate-containing lipids includes effects on membrane properties and potential signaling roles. Palmitoleic acid has been studied as a signaling lipid or lipokine in metabolic regulation, with some evidence linking it to insulin sensitivity in animal models, though human data are inconsistent and the concept remains debated.

See also: Palmitoleic acid; Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1; Lipokine; Glycerophospholipid; Triglyceride.