Lecture 19/20: Classes of Cellular Lipids and Glycerophospholipid/Sphingolipid Synthesis Flashcards
What are the 2 mechanisms to synthesize glycerophospholipids from phosphatidic acid?
- Activated diacylglycerol
2. Activated head groups
What is CDP?
Cytidine diphosphate
Describe the synthesis of glycerophospholipids using an activated diacylglycerol.
- Activate the DAG with CDP
2. Head group then attacks the CDP-DAG
Describe the synthesis of glycerophospholipids using an activated head group.
- Activate the head group with CDP
2. DAG then attacks the CDP-head group
What mechanism do bacteria, fungi, and mammals use to synthesize cardiolipin? Describe the 4 steps.
CTP activated DAG:
- Phosphatidic acid + CTP = CDP-DAG + PPi
- Add glycerol-3-phosphate + dephosphate: phosphatidylglycerol = PG
- PG + PG = cardiolipin
What mechanism do bacteria and fungi use to synthesize phosphatidylserine? Describe the 2 steps.
CTP activated DAG:
- Phosphatidic acid + CTP = CDP-DAG + PPi
- CDP-DAG + serine = phosphatidylserine + CMP
What mechanism do bacteria and fungi use to synthesize phosphatidylethanolamine? Describe the 2 steps.
CTP activated DAG:
- Make phosphatidylserine
- PS decarboxylase = CO2 + phosphatidylethanolamine
What mechanism do bacteria, fungi, and mammals use to synthesize PG? Describe the 3 steps.
CTP activated DAG:
- Phosphatidic acid + CTP = CDP-DAG + PPi
- Add glycerol-3-phosphate + dephosphate: phosphatidylglycerol = PG
What mechanism do fungi and mammals use to synthesize phosphatidylinositol? Describe the 4 steps.
CTP activated DAG:
- Make PG
- PG + inositol-4,5-BP = phosphatidylinositol-4,5-BP
What mechanism do fungi use to synthesize phosphatidylcholine? Describe the 2 steps. What other mammal organ can do this?
CTP activated DAG:
1. Make phosphatidylethalonamine
2. Methylate it
LIVER!
What mechanism do mammals use to synthesize phosphatidylcholine? Describe the 1 step.
Head group activation:
CDP-choline + DAG = phosphatidylcholine
What mechanism do mammals use to synthesize phosphatidylethanolamine? Describe the 1 step.
Head group activation:
CDP-ethanolamine + DAG = phosphatidylethanolamine
What mechanism do mammals use to synthesize phosphatidylserine? Describe the 1 step
Head-group exchange mechanism:
CDP-serine + PE OR PC = phosphatidylserine
What is the role of surfactant?
Reduce surface tension in the alveoli during respiration to allow the alveoli to expand
What are the 2 major components of surfactant?
2 glycerophospholipids:
- Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)
- Unsaturated phosphatidylcholine
When does the fetus produce surfactant?
35 weeks
What is respiratory distress syndrome? Treatment?
Syndrome due to lack of surfactant in premature babies
Treatment: artificial lung surfactant and O2
What can be measured to understand the maturity of the surfactant being produced by a premature baby? Describe the interpretation of the results.
Measure L/S ratio = L-phosphatidylcholine/S-sphingomyelin ratio:
- Normal term pregnancy: >=2
- 1.5-2: 40% chance of developing respiratory distress syndrome
What are 2 ether-linked glycerophospholipids? What is the difference with normal glycerophospholipids?
- Plasmalogens
- Platelet-activating factor
They have an ether-linked alkane/alkene chain instead of an FA at position 1
What are the 2 possible head groups for plasmalogens?
- Choline
2. Ethanolamine
What are plasmalogens important for? 3 things
- Cardiac muscle tissues
- Myelin sheath
- Biomarker for metastatic cancers
Where is the double in plasmalogens? What do we call these molecules?
Between C1 and C2 of the alkene chain
Vynil ethers
Describe the composition of the platelet-activating factor. What does the position 2 portion of it allows it do to?
- Ether linked alkane chain at position 1
- Acetyl ester at position 2: small group allowing the molecule to circulate and be soluble in blood
- Phosphocholine head group at position 3