2021-03-02 13:03 Fatty acids are the building blocks of different sets of biomolecules. Some fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, are important in cellular signaling. Fatty acids are released through the enzymatic effect of phospholipase A on phospholipids and various other lipases. Fluorescent fatty acids can be used interchangeably with corresponding phospholipids as membrane probes; however, fatty acids are more likely to transfer between the aqueous phase and the lipid phase. Although fatty acids are ionized in water under neutral pH (pka~5), their pka is usually~7 in the membrane, and thus a significant fraction of membrane-bound fatty acids air neutral species.