Structural and functional roles of ether lipids  

作　　者：John M. Dean Irfan J. Lodhi 

机构地区：[1]Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA

出　　处：《Protein & Cell》2018年第2期196-206,共11页蛋白质与细胞（英文版）

摘　　要：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 seem- ingly 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 signifi- cance in human disorders, including neurological diseases, cancer, and metabolic disorders.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 seem- ingly 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 signifi- cance in human disorders, including neurological diseases, cancer, and metabolic disorders.

关 键 词：ether lipids PLASMALOGEN phospholipid peroxisomes CANCER metabolic disorders 

分 类 号：TS192.5[轻工技术与工程—纺织化学与染整工程] TQ658[轻工技术与工程—纺织科学与工程]