Sapienic acid is a
fatty acid that is a major component of human
sebum. Unique to humans, it takes its scientific name from the root sapiens. The equivalent fatty acid in mouse sebum is
palmitoleic acid.[1] Sapienic acid
salts,
esters,
anion, and
conjugate base are known as sapienates.
Deficient production of sapienic acid has been implicated in the development of
atopic dermatitis,[2] and sapienic acid has potent
antibacterial activity against pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus.[3][4] Reduced
omega-3 intake has been linked to lower sapienic acid levels in sebum.[5]
Delta-6-desaturation of
palmitic acid leads to the biosynthesis of sapienic acid. In other tissues
linoleic acid is the target for delta 6 desaturase, but linoleic acid is degraded in
sebaceous cells, allowing the enzyme to desaturate palmitic to sapienic acid.[6][7] A two-carbon extension product of sapienic acid,
sebaleic acid, is also present in sebum.
Sapienic acid can lead to the decanal which is likely what mosquitoes use to identify human prey.[8]