The Biosynthesis and Functions of Plasmalogens
キーワード:
plasmalogens,
alkyl-acylphosphoglycerides,
alkenyl-acylphosphoglycerides,
functions,
ether-linked phospholipids
1993 年 14 巻 2 号 p. 71-82
詳細
1993 年 14 巻 2 号 p. 71-82
The biosynthesis of plasmalogen (alkenyl acyl glycerophosphoryl choline or ethanolamine) is independent of diacyl glycero-phospholipid synthesis and requires the coordinated activities of peroxisomal, cytosolic, and endoplasmic reticulum enzymes. This would indicate that the plasmalogens may have a unique role(s) to play in cellular functions, one different from that of the diacyl glycerophospholipids. Several functions have been assigned to plasmalogens such as antioxidants, arachidonic acid storage terminals, receptor mediators, substrate for the biosynthesis of platelet-activating-factor (PAF), and determinant of physicochemical properties of biomembranes. Except for serving as a substrate for biologically active PAF biosynthesis, none of the proposed functions have been fully validated. The purpose of this review article is to provide up-to-date knowledge of the biosynthetic pathway and functions of plasmalogens.
