Figure 17. Chemical structures of fatty acylation probes with chain lengths shorter than myristic acid.

Saturated fatty acids butyric(C4:0) and octanoic (C8:0) acids are functionalized with either azide or alkyne moieties. A ghrelin probe containing an octanoyl modification, alkyne functionality, and phosphonofluoridate war head can be used to identify enzymes with octanoyl esterase activity. (Ref. 466)