fatty acid branched-chain fatty acid Any fatty acid in which the parent hydrocarbon chain has one or more alkyl substituents; a common component in animal and bacterial lipids. The fatty acyl chain is usually saturated and the substituent a methyl group; however, unsaturated BCFAs are found in marine animals, and branches other than methyl are found in microbial lipids. BCFA BCFAs CHEBI:22919 branched fatty acids branched-chain fatty acids CHEBI:3166 branched fatty acid Branched chain fatty acid KEGG:C05996 CHEBI:35819 branched-chain fatty acid anion