2-Hydroxymyristic acid

2-Hydroxymyristic acid has the capability to distinguish between myristoylation and palmitoylation, and is therefore able to inhibit protein myristoylation in cells. Many proteins require myristoylation to be fully active, and inhibition of myristoylation by 2-Hydroxymyristic acid will suppress full protein activity. Metabolic activation to the CoA thioester may be required for inhibitory potency in cells. 2-Hydroxymyristic acid is also capable of reducing the quantity of p56lck, a protein partly responsible for T cell activation, available for signal transduction at the plasma membrane through its inhibition of protein N-myristoylation.