Do Fatty Acids Decrease pH

We show that the addition of fatty acid to pancreatic beta-cells in vitro produces a persistent decrease in intracellular pH, which begins immediately after the addition of fatty acid and has an exponential time course with t1/2 approximately 60 s. The pH drop can be largely reversed by the addition of albumin.

What pH is fatty acids?

The compositions of major fatty acids in the strains growing at pH 7.0, 7.8, or 8.5 were 25.7, 28.0, and 32.1% for palmitic acid; 17.3, 14.7, and 25.7% for oleic acid; and 9.8, 12.1, and 4.6% for linoleic acid; respectively.

Are lipids acidic?

All lipids do however contain at least one hydrocarbon chain (i.e. a chain of carbon and hydrogen atoms) with an acidic end. Hydrocarbon chains are insoluble in water. The vast majority of lipids have long hydrocarbon chains which are why they are hydrophobic molecules i.e. they don’t dissolve in water.