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Pathway Description
Plasmalogen Synthesis
Homo sapiens
Metabolic Pathway
Created: 2013-08-19
Last Updated: 2023-10-29
Plasmalogens are a class of phospholipids found in animals. Plasmalogens are thought to influence membrane dynamics and fatty acid levels, while also having roles in intracellular signalling and as antioxidants. Plasmalogens consist of a glycerol backbone with an vinyl-ether-linked alkyl chain at the sn-1 position, an ester-linked long-chain fatty acid at the sn-2 position, and a head group attached to the sn-3 position through a phosphodiester linkage. It is the vinyl-ether-linkage that separates plasmalogens from other phospholipids. Plasmalogen biosynthesis begins in the peroxisomes, where the integral membrane protein dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase (DHAPAT) catalyzes the esterification of the free hydroxyl group of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) with a molecule any of long chain acyl CoA. Next, alkyl-DHAP synthase, a peroxisomal enzyme associated with DHAPAT, replaces the fatty acid on the DHAP with a long chain fatty alcohol. The third step of plasmalogen biosynthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme acyl/alkyl-DHAP reductase, which is found in the membrane of both the peroxisome and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Acyl/alkyl-DHAP reductase uses NADPH as a cofactor to reduce the ketone of the 1-alkyl-DHAP using a classical hydride transfer mechanism. The remainder of plasmalogen synthesis occurs using enzymes in the ER. Lysophosphatidate acyltransferases (LPA-ATs) transfer the acyl component of a polyunsaturated acyl-CoA to the the 1-alkyl-DHAP, creating a 1-alkyl-2-acylglycerol 3-phosphate. The phosphate is then removed by lipid phosphate phosphohydrolase I (PAP-I), and the head group is attached by a choline/ethanolaminephosphotransferase. The majority of plasmalogens have either ethanolamine or choline as a headgroup, although a small amount of serine and inositol-linked ether-phospholipids can also be found. In the final step, the vinyl-ether linkage is created by plasmanylethanolamine desaturase, which catalyzes the formation of a double bond in the alkyl chain of the plasmalogen.
References
Plasmalogen Synthesis References
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Pubmed: 11275267
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Pubmed: 19519379
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Pubmed: 15687349
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Pubmed: 15164770
Thai TP, Heid H, Rackwitz HR, Hunziker A, Gorgas K, Just WW: Ether lipid biosynthesis: isolation and molecular characterization of human dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase. FEBS Lett. 1997 Dec 29;420(2-3):205-11. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)01495-6.
Pubmed: 9459311
Ofman R, Hettema EH, Hogenhout EM, Caruso U, Muijsers AO, Wanders RJ: Acyl-CoA:dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase: cloning of the human cDNA and resolution of the molecular basis in rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata type 2. Hum Mol Genet. 1998 May;7(5):847-53. doi: 10.1093/hmg/7.5.847.
Pubmed: 9536089
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Pubmed: 11237722
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Pubmed: 9187299
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Pubmed: 14702039
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Pubmed: 15489334
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Pubmed: 9212163
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Pubmed: 9291118
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Pubmed: 9461603
Kai M, Wada I, Imai Si, Sakane F, Kanoh H: Cloning and characterization of two human isozymes of Mg2+-independent phosphatidic acid phosphatase. J Biol Chem. 1997 Sep 26;272(39):24572-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.272.39.24572.
Pubmed: 9305923
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Pubmed: 9570154
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Pubmed: 9468526
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Pubmed: 12216837
Henneberry AL, McMaster CR: Cloning and expression of a human choline/ethanolaminephosphotransferase: synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Biochem J. 1999 Apr 15;339 ( Pt 2):291-8.
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Pubmed: 16710414
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