Structural and functional roles of ether lipids
ABSTRACT Ether lipids, such as plasmalogens, are peroxisome-derived glycerophospholipids in which the hydrocarbon chain at the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone is attached by an ether bond, as opposed to an ester bond in the more common diacyl phospholipids. This seemingly simple biochemical c...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2017-05-01
|
| Series: | Protein & Cell |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13238-017-0423-5 |
| _version_ | 1827834217390669824 |
|---|---|
| author | John M. Dean Irfan J. Lodhi |
| author_facet | John M. Dean Irfan J. Lodhi |
| author_sort | John M. Dean |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Ether lipids, such as plasmalogens, are peroxisome-derived glycerophospholipids in which the hydrocarbon chain at the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone is attached by an ether bond, as opposed to an ester bond in the more common diacyl phospholipids. This seemingly simple biochemical change has profound structural and functional implications. Notably, the tendency of ether lipids to form non-lamellar inverted hexagonal structures in model membranes suggests that they have a role in facilitating membrane fusion processes. Ether lipids are also important for the organization and stability of lipid raft microdomains, cholesterol-rich membrane regions involved in cellular signaling. In addition to their structural roles, a subset of ether lipids are thought to function as endogenous antioxidants, and emerging studies suggest that they are involved in cell differentiation and signaling pathways. Here, we review the biology of ether lipids and their potential significance in human disorders, including neurological diseases, cancer, and metabolic disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:47:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6e4692b03f24a5f968de2bdfed1472d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1674-800X 1674-8018 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:47:03Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Protein & Cell |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6e4692b03f24a5f968de2bdfed1472d2023-09-03T05:33:39ZengOxford University PressProtein & Cell1674-800X1674-80182017-05-019219620610.1007/s13238-017-0423-5Structural and functional roles of ether lipidsJohn M. Dean0Irfan J. Lodhi1Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineDivision of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineABSTRACT Ether lipids, such as plasmalogens, are peroxisome-derived glycerophospholipids in which the hydrocarbon chain at the sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone is attached by an ether bond, as opposed to an ester bond in the more common diacyl phospholipids. This seemingly simple biochemical change has profound structural and functional implications. Notably, the tendency of ether lipids to form non-lamellar inverted hexagonal structures in model membranes suggests that they have a role in facilitating membrane fusion processes. Ether lipids are also important for the organization and stability of lipid raft microdomains, cholesterol-rich membrane regions involved in cellular signaling. In addition to their structural roles, a subset of ether lipids are thought to function as endogenous antioxidants, and emerging studies suggest that they are involved in cell differentiation and signaling pathways. Here, we review the biology of ether lipids and their potential significance in human disorders, including neurological diseases, cancer, and metabolic disorders.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13238-017-0423-5ether lipidsplasmalogenphospholipidperoxisomescancermetabolic disorders |
| spellingShingle | John M. Dean Irfan J. Lodhi Structural and functional roles of ether lipids Protein & Cell ether lipids plasmalogen phospholipid peroxisomes cancer metabolic disorders |
| title | Structural and functional roles of ether lipids |
| title_full | Structural and functional roles of ether lipids |
| title_fullStr | Structural and functional roles of ether lipids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Structural and functional roles of ether lipids |
| title_short | Structural and functional roles of ether lipids |
| title_sort | structural and functional roles of ether lipids |
| topic | ether lipids plasmalogen phospholipid peroxisomes cancer metabolic disorders |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13238-017-0423-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnmdean structuralandfunctionalrolesofetherlipids AT irfanjlodhi structuralandfunctionalrolesofetherlipids |