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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes
Published on: February 9, 2018
N-FATTY ACYLGLYCINES: UNDERAPPRECIATED ENDOCANNABINOID-LIKE FATTY ACID AMIDES?
Ryan L Anderson1, David J Merkler1
1Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa FL33620, USA.
Abstract:
Long-chain N-fatty acylglycines, R-CO-NH-CH2-COOH (where "R" refers to an unsaturated or saturated alkyl chain of at least 14 carbons) are found in mammals and insects and are structurally related to the cell-signaling, lipid-like, N-fatty acylethanolamines, R-CO-NH-CH2-CH2-OH (where "R" refers to an alkyl chain of at least 14 carbons). Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the N-fatty acylglycines have important cellular functions, but much work remains in order to fully appreciate and understand these biomolecules including: (a) more work on their functions in vivo, (b) measuring their concentrations in the cell, (c) defining the pathways for the biosynthesis and degradation, and (d) understanding the metabolic interconversion(s) between the N-fatty acylglycines and other fatty acid amides. The purpose of reviewing the current state-of-knowledge about the N-fatty acylglycines is to stimulate future research about this intriguing family of biomolecules.
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