Phospholipid Structures磷脂的结构.docVIP

Phospholipid Structures ??? Phospholipids are synthesized by esterification of an alcohol to the phosphate of phosphatidic acid (1,2-diacylglycerol 3-phosphate). Most phospholipids have a saturated fatty acid on C-1 and an unsaturated fatty acid on C-2 of the glycerol backbone. The most commonly added alcohols (serine, ethanolamine and choline) also contain nitrogen that may be positively charged, whereas, glycerol and inositol do not. The major classifications of phospholipids are: ? Phosphatidylcholine (PC)--- lecithins Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)--Cephalin Phosphatidylserine (PS) Phosphatidylinositol (PI) Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) ? Sites of action of the phospholipases A1, A2, C and D. ? ??? The products of these phospholipases are called lysophospholipids and can be substrates for acyl transferases utilizing different acyl-CoA groups. Lysophospholipids can also accept acyl groups from other phospholipids in an exchange reaction catalyzed by lysolecithin:lecithin acyltransferase (LLAT). ??? Phospholipase A2 is also an important enzyme, whose activity is responsible for the release of arachidonic acid from the C-2 position of membrane phospholipids. The released arachidonate is then a substrate for the synthesis of the prostaglandins and leukotrienes.  Plasmalogens ??? Plasmalogens are glycerol ether phospholipids. They are of two types, alkyl ether (-O-CH2-) and alkenyl ether (-O-CH=CH-). Dihydroxyacetone phosphate serves as the glycerol precursor for the synthesis of glycerol ether phospholipids. Three major classes of plasmalogens have been identified: choline, ethanolamine and serine plasmalogens. Ethanolamine plasmalogen is prevalent in myelin. Choline plasmalogen is abundant in cardiac tissue. ??? One particular choline alkyl ether plasmalogen (1-O-1-enyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) has been identified as an extremely powerful biological mediator, capable of inducing cellular responses at concentrations as low a