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Review
. 2014 May;55(5):799-807.
doi: 10.1194/jlr.R046094. Epub 2014 Mar 19.

Diversity and function of membrane glycerophospholipids generated by the remodeling pathway in mammalian cells

Daisuke Hishikawa  1 , Tomomi Hashidate, Takao Shimizu, Hideo Shindou
Affiliations
Review

Diversity and function of membrane glycerophospholipids generated by the remodeling pathway in mammalian cells

Daisuke Hishikawa et al. J Lipid Res. 2014 May.

Erratum in

  • J Lipid Res. 2014 Nov;55(11):2444

Abstract

Cellular membranes are composed of numerous kinds of glycerophospholipids with different combinations of polar heads at the sn-3 position and acyl moieties at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, respectively. The glycerophospholipid compositions of different cell types, organelles, and inner/outer plasma membrane leaflets are quite diverse. The acyl moieties of glycerophospholipids synthesized in the de novo pathway are subsequently remodeled by the action of phospholipases and lysophospholipid acyltransferases. This remodeling cycle contributes to the generation of membrane glycerophospholipid diversity and the production of lipid mediators such as fatty acid derivatives and lysophospholipids. Furthermore, specific glycerophospholipid transporters are also important to organize a unique glycerophospholipid composition in each organelle. Recent progress in this field contributes to understanding how and why membrane glycerophospholipid diversity is organized and maintained.

Keywords: lysophospholipid acyltransferase; membrane biology; phospholipid metabolism.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Biosynthetic pathways of glycerophospholipids. Upper panel shows the de novo synthesis (green lines) and the fatty acid remodeling (magenta lines) of glycerophospholipids. LPLATs involved in each reacylation of the lysophospholipids are indicated. Lower panel shows an example of the fatty acid remodeling of PC. In this reaction, PLA2s release fatty acid (arachidonic acid) from the sn-2 position of PC, while LPCATs catalyze the reacylation at the sn-2 position of LPC using acyl-CoA (arachidonoyl-CoA). The details are discussed in the text. PGP, phosphatidylglycerolphosphate.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Cellular functions of glycerophospholipid remodeling and diversity. Roles of various glycerophospholipids in mammalian cells are shown. The membrane glycerophospholipid diversity produced in the fatty acid remodeling pathway may affect various cellular functions. The details are discussed in the text. LB, lamellar body.
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