The metabolism of glycerophospholipid begins with glycerone phosphate either reacting with glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase resulting in the release of glycerol-3-phosphate or it can react with glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase / dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase resulting in the release of a 1-acylglycerone 3-phosphate. Glycerol-3-phosphate reacts with glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase resulting in the release of an acyl glycerol phosphate. 1-acylglycerone 3-phosphate 1-acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate reductase resulting in the release of a acyl glycerol phosphate. The latter compound then reacts with a oleoyl-CoA: lysophosphatidate acyltransferase resulting in the release of a phosphatidic acid. The latter compound reacts with Phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase 1 resulting in the release of diacyl glycerol. This compound can be metabolized through a CTP-dependent diacylglycerol kinase 1 resulting in the release of a phosphatidic acid. Diacyl glycerol reacts with cdp-ethanolamine through a bifunctional diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase/ethanolaminephosphotransferase resulting in the release of a phosphatidyl ethanolamine.

Glycerophospholipid Metabolism References