Monoglyceride
<p >A <b>monoglyceride</b>, more correctly known as a <b>monoacylglycerol</b>, is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyceride" title="Glyceride" >glyceride</a> consisting of one <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acid" title="Fatty acid" >fatty acid</a> chain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covalent" title="Covalent" class="mw-redirect" >covalently</a> bonded to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol" title="Glycerol" >glycerol</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecule" title="Molecule" >molecule</a> through an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ester" title="Ester" >ester</a> linkage.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoglyceride#cite_note-0" >[1]</a></sup></p>
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Monoacylglycerol can be broadly divided into two groups; 1-monoacylglycerols and 2-monoacylglycerols, depending on the position of the ester bond on the glycerol moiety.</p>
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Monoacylglycerols can be formed by both industrial chemical and biological processes. They are formed biochemically via release of a fatty acid from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diglyceride" title="Diglyceride" >diacylglycerol</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacylglycerol_lipase" title="Diacylglycerol lipase" >diacylglycerol lipase</a>. Monoacylglycerols are broken down by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoacylglycerol_lipase" title="Monoacylglycerol lipase" >monoacylglycerol lipase</a>.</p>
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Mono- and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diglycerides" title="Diglycerides" class="mw-redirect" >diglycerides</a> are commonly added to commercial food products in small quantities. They act as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emulsifiers" title="Emulsifiers" class="mw-redirect" >emulsifiers</a>, helping to mix ingredients such as
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable_fats_and_oils" title="Vegetable fats and oils" >oil and water</a> that would not otherwise blend well.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoglyceride#cite_note-1" >[2]</a></sup></p>
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The commercial source may be either <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal" title="Animal" >animal</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow" title="Cow" class="mw-redirect" >cow</a>- or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hog_(swine)" title="Hog (swine)" class="mw-redirect" >hog</a>-derived) or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable" title="Vegetable" >vegetable</a>, and they may be synthetically made as well. </p>
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They are often found in bakery products, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage" title="Beverage" class="mw-redirect" >beverages</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream" title="Ice cream" >ice cream</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gum" title="Chewing gum" >chewing gum</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortening" title="Shortening" >shortening</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipped_topping" title="Whipped topping" class="mw-redirect" >whipped toppings</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarine" title="Margarine" >margarine</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confection" title="Confection" class="mw-redirect" >confections</a>.<sup class="Template-Fact" >[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" >citation needed</a></i>]</sup> </p>
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When used in bakery products, monoglycerides improve loaf volume, and create a smooth, soft crumb.</p>
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One special monoacylglycerol, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-arachidonoylglycerol" title="2-arachidonoylglycerol" class="mw-redirect" >2-arachidonoylglycerol</a>, is a full <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonist" title="Agonist" >agonist</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor" title="Cannabinoid receptor" >cannabinoid receptors</a>. </p>
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Another important monoacylglycerol is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-oleoylglycerol" title="2-oleoylglycerol" class="mw-redirect" >2-oleoylglycerol</a>, which is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPR119" title="GPR119" >GPR119</a> agonist.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoglyceride#cite_note-2" >[3]</a></sup></p>
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GPR119 is expressed predominantly in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreas" title="Pancreas" >pancreas</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastrointestinal_tract" title="Gastrointestinal tract" class="mw-redirect" >gastrointestinal tract</a> in rodents and humans, as well as in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain" title="Brain" >brain</a> in rodents.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid16517404_4-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPR119#cite_note-pmid16517404-4" >[5]</a></sup> </p>
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Activation of the receptor has been shown to cause a reduction in food intake and body weight gain in rats.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid16517404_4-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPR119#cite_note-pmid16517404-4" >[5]</a></sup> </p>
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GPR119 has also been shown to regulate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incretin" title="Incretin" >incretin</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin" title="Insulin" >insulin</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone" title="Hormone" >hormone</a>secretion.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid18724386_5-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPR119#cite_note-pmid18724386-5" >[6]</a></sup>
<sup id="cite_ref-pmid19009545_6-0" class="reference" > </sup>
<sup id="cite_ref-pmid19009545_6-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPR119#cite_note-pmid19009545-6" >[7]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-pmid19282326_7-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPR119#cite_note-pmid19282326-7" >[8]</a></sup> As a result, new drugs acting on the receptor have been suggested as novel treatments for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity" title="Obesity" >obesity</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes" title="Diabetes" class="mw-redirect" >diabetes</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-pmid16517404_4-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPR119#cite_note-pmid16517404-4" >[5]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-pmid19009545_6-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPR119#cite_note-pmid19009545-6" >[7]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-pmid18037923_8-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPR119#cite_note-pmid18037923-8" >[9]</a></sup></p>
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