mycolic acids

my·col·ic ac·ids

(mī-kol'ik as'idz), Long-chain cyclopropanecarboxylic acids (C19-C21), further substituted by long-chain (C24-C30) alkanes containing free hydroxyl groups, found in certain bacteria; these waxy substances appear to be responsible for the acid-fastness of the bacteria that contain them. Synonym(s): mykol