Phospholipid functions

P. He, M.W. Urban, Controlled phospholipid functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes, Biomacromolecules, vol. 6, pp. 2455-2457, 2005. 

Ostrander, D. B., et al. 2001. Lack of mitochondrial anionic phospholipids causes an inhibition of translation of protein components of the electron transport chain a yeast genetic model system for the study of anionic phospholipid function in mitochondria. J. Biol. Chem. 276 25262-25272. 

Biobased surfactants are typically divided into glycolipids, lipopeptides, phospholipids, functionalized fatty acids, and polymeric biosurfactants. Typical representatives of these groups are rhamnoUpids, trehaloselipids, sophoroselipids, cellobioselipids, surfactin, liposan, and emulsan. 

These are similar to triglycerides except one of the fatty acids attached to the glycerol molecule is replaced by phosphate and a nitrogen-containing compound. Lecithin, ceph-alin, phosphatidyl inositol, and phosphatidyl serine are all classified as phospholipids. Functionally, phospholipids... 

One important phospholipid is phosphatidylcholine, also called lecithin. Phosphatidylcholine is a mixture of diesters of phosphoric acid. One estei function is derived from a diacylglycerol, whereas the other is a choline [—OCH2CH2N(CH3)3] unit. 

There are other ways in which the lateral organization (and asymmetry) of lipids in biological membranes can be altered. Eor example, cholesterol can intercalate between the phospholipid fatty acid chains, its polar hydroxyl group associated with the polar head groups. In this manner, patches of cholesterol and phospholipids can form in an otherwise homogeneous sea of pure phospholipid. This lateral asymmetry can in turn affect the function of membrane proteins and enzymes. The lateral distribution of lipids in a membrane can also be affected by proteins in the membrane. Certain integral membrane proteins prefer associations with specific lipids. Proteins may select unsaturated lipid chains over saturated chains or may prefer a specific head group over others. 

For most tissues, cells and organs, the effects of cold on the cellular membrane are fully reversible. Cells cooled to 1 °C to 4 °C for short periods of time (about four hours) can regain normal cellular functions, including membrane-linked functions, when rewarmed. This seems to suggest that the phase transition in the membrane-bound phospholipids is reversible when the temperature is elevated to normothermia. 

Ishihara K, Tanaka S, Furukawa N, Kurita K, and Nakabayashi N. Improved blood compatibility of segmented polyurethanes by polymeric additives having phospholipid polar groups. I. Molecular design of polymeric additives and their functions. J Biomed Mater Res, 1996, 32(3), 391-399. 

For the treatment of lung surfactant deficiency in premature human infants suffering from respiratory distress syndrome, limited clinical trials were performed showing that liposomes in the lung-instilled intratracheally either as an aerosolized mist (Ivey et al., 1977) or as a suspension via an endotracheal tube (Fujiwara et al., 1980)—rapidly improved lung function. No adverse effects were observed as a result of the supplementation with surfactant-like material. It appears, therefore, that liposomes are a suitable system for the delivery of major phospholipid components of endogenous lung surfactant. 

Rats fed a purified nonlipid diet containing vitamins A and D exhibit a reduced growth rate and reproductive deficiency which may be cured by the addition of linoleic, a-linolenic, and arachidonic acids to the diet. These fatty acids are found in high concentrations in vegetable oils (Table 14-2) and in small amounts in animal carcasses. These essential fatty acids are required for prostaglandin, thromboxane, leukotriene, and lipoxin formation (see below), and they also have various other functions which are less well defined. Essential fatty acids are found in the stmctural lipids of the cell, often in the 2 position of phospholipids, and are concerned with the structural integrity of the mitochondrial membrane. 

The lipid content of the membranes can be varied, allowing systematic examination of the effects of varying lipid composition on certain functions. For instance, vesicles can be made that are composed solely of phosphatidylchohne or, alternatively, of known mixtures of different phospholipids, glycohpids, and cholesterol. The fatty acid moieties of the lipids used can also be varied by employing synthetic lipids of known... 

For cells to carry out their functions, glucose and other nutrients must be brought in, and urea and other waste products must be expelled. This would be an impossible task if cell membranes were composed only of phospholipids. Farge protein molecules act as molecular gates through the membranes (see Chapter 13 for the structures of proteins). These proteins are embedded in the bilayers but protrude into the surrounding water and/or into the cell interiors, as Figure 12-19 indicates. 

In addition to phospholipids, cell membranes contain protein molecules that carry out special functions such as transporting ions and molecules through the membrane. 

Myo-inositol is one of the most biologically active forms of inositol. It exists in several isomeric forms, the most common being the constituent of phospholipids in biological cell membranes. It also occurs as free inositol and as inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) also known as phytate which is a major source from food. Rice bran is one of the richest sources of IP6 as well as free inositol. Inositol is considered to belong to the B-complex vitamins. It is released in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals by the dephosphorylation of IP6 (phytate) by the intestinal enzyme phytase. Phytase also releases intermediate products as inositol triphosphate and inositol pentaphosphate. Inositol triphosphate in cellular membrane functions as an important intra- and intercellular messenger, that merits its value as a nutritional therapy for cancer. 

A significant functional and structural feature of the plasma membrane Ca pumps is the presence of the calmodulin-binding subdomains A and B near the C-terminus (Fig. 3), that imparts calmodulin sensitivity on the Ca transport and ATP hydrolysis [3]. Adjacent to the calmodulin-binding region are two acidic segments (AC) and the P(S) region containing a serine residue that is susceptible to phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase [34]. A unique feature of the plasma membrane Ca pump is its activation by acidic phospholipids that are presumed to... 

Phospholipids are amphiphilic compoimds with high surface activity. They can significantly influence the physical properties of emulsions and foams used in the food industry. Rodriguez Patino et al. (2007) investigated structural, morphological, and surface rheology of dipalmitoylpho-sphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) monolayers at air-water interface. DPPC monolayers showed structural polymorphisms at the air-water interface as a function of surface pressure and the pH of the aqueous phase (Fig. 6.18). DOPC monolayers showed a... 

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