Acylcarnitine C14 Unit Converter

Acylcarnitine C14, also known as myristoylcarnitine, is a long-chain acylcarnitine formed when the 14-carbon fatty acid myristic acid is attached to carnitine. It is an intermediate in the process of transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for energy production.

Long-chain fatty acids cannot cross the inner mitochondrial membrane on their own. They must first be conjugated with carnitine to form acylcarnitines, which can then be shuttled into the mitochondria where the fatty acid is released and broken down through beta-oxidation to generate energy.

Measuring C14 acylcarnitine as part of an acylcarnitine profile helps evaluate how well the body is oxidizing long-chain fatty acids. It is commonly measured alongside other acylcarnitines such as C14:1 (tetradecenoylcarnitine), C16, and free carnitine.

C14 acylcarnitine is produced in the mitochondria of cells throughout the body, particularly in the liver, skeletal muscle, and heart, when the 14-carbon fatty acid myristic acid is conjugated with carnitine by the enzyme carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-I) as part of the fatty acid transport system.