![]() The major structural phospholipids in mammalian membranes are glycerophospholipids, including phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidic acid (PA). Phospholipids are also substrates for the generation of bioactive molecules involved in signal transduction, such as eicosanoids, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), and diacylglycerol ( 1– 3). Phospholipid bilayers fulfill important structural functions by segregating cellular contents from the surrounding environment, forming subcellular organelles and providing platforms for a variety of cellular processes. Along with cholesterol, they are the major constituents of biological membranes. Phospholipids are composed of two hydrophobic fatty acyl chains and one hydrophilic head group. Pharmacological manipulation of LPCAT activity and membrane phospholipid composition may provide new therapeutic options for these conditions. Mounting evidence also suggests that changes in LPCAT activity may be potentially involved in pathological conditions, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, viral infections, and cancer. LPCAT3 maintains systemic lipid homeostasis by regulating lipid absorption in intestine, lipoprotein secretion, and de novo lipogenesis in liver. LPCAT1 is crucial for proper lung function due to its role in pulmonary surfactant biosynthesis. Two LPCAT family members, LPCAT1 and LPCAT3, have been particularly well studied. ![]() Recent studies of mouse genetic models have demonstrated that lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferases (LPCATs), which catalyze the incorporation of fatty acyl chains into the sn-2 site of phosphatidylcholine, play important roles in pathophysiology. The composition of fatty acyl chains is also actively regulated through a deacylation and reacylation pathway called Lands’ cycle. The fatty acyl chain composition of phospholipids determines the biophysical properties of membranes and thereby affects their impact on biological processes. Phospholipids are major constituents of biological membranes. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |