Palmitate - Definition and Overview

Palmitate, also called n-hexadecanoate, is the dissociated and obserserved form of Palmitic Acid at physiological pH. Palmitate is a saturated 16 carbon fatty acid, and the first product of lipogenesis aka Fatty Acid Synthesis. Chemical Formula: CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COO^- 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. Palmitate is an antioxidant and a vitamin A compound 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"