Plasmalogen

Plasmalogen

A plasmalogen is an ether lipid where the first position of glycerol binds a vinyl residue (from a vinyl alcohol) with the double bond next to the ether bond.

The second carbon has a typical ester-linked fatty acid, and the third carbon usually has a phospholipid head group like choline or ethanolamine.

Functions

In many tissues plasmalogens are minor constituents, but in heart tissue nearly 50% of phosphatidylcholine contains the alkenyl ether at carbon 1. Nervous tissues, testes and kidneys also contain significant amounts of plasmalogens.

Alkenyl ether-containing phospholipids can protect cells against the damaging effects of singlet oxygen, which at high concentrations can kill cells.

Plasmalogens also occur in invertebrates and single cell protozoans. Among bacteria they have been found in many anaerobic species including "Clostridia", "Megasphaera", and "Veillonella".

History

Plasmalogens were first described when studying stained tissue sections.

These tissue sections were pre-treated with mercuric chloride that breaks the vinyl-ether bond and forms aldehydes that later react with a fuschine-sulfurous acid stain, giving rise to coloured compounds inside the cytoplasm of the cells.

Pathology

Zellweger's syndrome is characterized by defects in peroxisome biogenesis resulting in the reduced production of plasmalogen synthesis.

ee also

* Plasmalogen synthase

External links

*


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  • Plasmalogen synthase — In enzymology, a plasmalogen synthase (EC number|2.3.1.25) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction:acyl CoA + 1 O alk 1 enyl glycero 3 phosphocholine ightleftharpoons CoA + plasmenylcholineThus, the two substrates of this enzyme are… …   Wikipedia

  • plasmalogen — /plaz mal euh jin, jen /, n. Biochem. any of the class of phosphatides that contain an aldehyde of a fatty acid, found in heart and skeletal muscle, the brain, the liver, and in eggs. [1920 25; PLASM + AL(KALAI) + O + GEN] * * * …   Universalium

  • plasmalogen — noun Any of a class of phospholipids, found in cell membranes, in which one of the fatty acids is replaced by an aldehyde (connected to the glycerol with an unsaturated ether linkage) …   Wiktionary

  • Plasmalogen — Plas|ma|lo|gen [↑ Plasma (2), ↑ al u. ↑ gen], das; s, e: Gruppenbez. für ↑ Phospholipide, die an C 1 des Glycerins statt eines Acylrests eine Enolethergruppe (R1 CH=CH O ) tragen, bei deren Abspaltung ein Aldehyd entsteht …   Universal-Lexikon

  • plasmalogen — plas·mal·o·gen plaz mal ə jən, .jen n any of a group of phospholipids in which a fatty acid group is replaced by a fatty aldehyde and which include lecithins, phosphatidylethanolamines, and phosphatidylserines * * * n. a phospholipid, found in… …   Medical dictionary

  • plasmalogen — n. phosphatides found in various organs of the body (Biochemistry) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • plasmalogen — plas·mal·o·gen …   English syllables

  • plasmalogen — n. a phospholipid, found in brain and muscle, similar in structure to lecithin and cephalin …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • plasmalogen — /plæzˈmælədʒən/ (say plaz maluhjuhn) noun any of a group of phospholipids found in the brain and heart; a component of cell membranes. {plasm(a) + al(kali) + o + gen} …  

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