About the structure and biological function of LCFA
Structure. Long chain fatty acids (LCFA) belong to the group of fatty acids within the fatty acyls. Their structure consists of a hydrocarbon chain of thirteen to twenty-one carbon atoms and a carboxylic head group. The hydrocarbon chain of LCFAs can further contain multiple double bonds, and be branched or linear.
Function. The most abundant natural fatty acids belong to the long chain fatty acids. Commercially relevant seed oils and animals fats are rich in LCFAs. They are vital components of the animal diet, yet excess consumption has been linked to inflammation. Some proteolipids, proteins to which a lipid is bond, require specific long chain fatty acids to function properly, and the long chain fatty acid palmitic acid is the biosynthetic precursor of the sphingoid bases and thus all sphingolipids.
