Biotransformation of alkylglycerols in plant cell cultures: Production of platelet activating factor and other biologically active ether lipids,

Abstract

Plant cells in culture are capable of incorporating exogenous 1‐O‐alkyl‐sn‐glycerols into various neutral and ionic ether lipids. 1‐O‐Alkyl‐2‐acyl‐sn‐glycerol‐3‐phosphocholines, the major class of compounds thus formed, are used for the preparation of platelet activating factor (PAF) in high yields. Similarly, the prochiral 2‐O‐alkyl‐sn‐glycerols are transformed to chiral 2‐O‐alkyl glycerophospholipids from which compounds can be obtained that exhibit antiviral activity in plant and animal cells. Reaction of 1‐O‐alkyl‐2‐acyl‐sn‐glycerol‐3‐phosphocholines with phospholipase D in the presence of ethanolamine leads to 1‐O‐alkyl‐2‐acyl‐sn‐glycerol‐3‐phosphoethanolamines, which serve as starting material, for the preparation of 1‐O‐alkyl‐2‐acyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phospho‐(N‐acyl)ethanolamines, compounds known to have antitumor activity.

Uptake and Metabolic Conversion of Exogenous Phosphatidylcholines Depending on Their Acyl Chain Structure in Arabidopsis thaliana

“…However, the presence of a well-developed root system may allow lipid absorption from the soil [ 21 , 28 ]. The ability of plants to assimilate exogenous lipids, including free fatty acids, GPLs, and DAG, has been demonstrated in various experiments [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. The main candidate for the role of an enzyme involved in GPL transport across the plasma membrane is the flippase of the P4-type ATPase family–Aminophospholipid ATPase 10 (ALA10) [ 30 ].…”