What does acylated mean?
Acylated describes a molecule to which an acyl group has been chemically attached. An acyl group is a fragment of a carboxylic acid containing a carbonyl (C=O) unit, such as the acetyl group of acetic acid or the benzoyl group of benzoic acid. In practice, acylation — the reaction that produces acylated compounds — is one of the most fundamental transformations in organic synthesis, yielding esters, amides, and related structures found throughout nature and industry. Chemists often specify where the attachment occurs, speaking of O-acylated, N-acylated, or C-acylated species. The term appears chiefly in research literature on pharmaceuticals, polymers, lipids, and proteins, since many biologically important molecules are acylated forms of simpler precursors. Though opaque to non-specialists, the word encodes a precise and consequential structural change: adding an acyl group typically alters a compound's reactivity, solubility, and stability.
adjectiveHaving had an acyl group (a carbonyl-containing group such as an acetyl or benzoyl group) chemically attached to a molecule, typically to an oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon atom.
- (Chemistry) Describing a compound that has one or more acyl groups bonded to it, usually via ester, amide, or thioester linkages.
"The acylated derivative proved far more stable than the parent compound."
"The researchers compared the biological activity of the free amine with its N-acylated counterpart."
"In mass spectrometry, acylated peptides can be identified by their characteristic mass shifts."
Every fat in your body is built on acylated glycerol — the word 'acyl' itself traces back to the Latin for vinegar.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acylated
The term derives from 'acyl', a combining form coined in German chemical nomenclature in the 19th century from 'acetyl' plus '-yl', the standard suffix for organic radicals. 'Acetyl' itself comes from Latin 'acetum', meaning vinegar, reflecting the fact that acetic acid gives vinegar its sour taste. The suffix '-ate(d)' follows the standard English pattern for forming names of compounds that have undergone a chemical addition.
Related word forms
How acylated is actually used
Strictly technical vocabulary used almost exclusively in organic chemistry and biochemistry. When the atom bearing the acyl group matters, chemists specify it with a prefix: O-acylated (on oxygen), N-acylated (on nitrogen), or C-acylated (on carbon).
Easily confused with acylated
Acetylated means specifically having an acetyl group (CH3CO–) attached, whereas acylated is the broader term covering any acyl group.