Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
07:37
Click-Chemistry Based Fluorometric Assay for Apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase from Enzyme Characterization to High-Throughput Screening
Published on: May 13, 2020
Acyl-CoA:lysophospholipid acyltransferases
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|August 23, 2008
Summary
Researchers identified key enzymes in the Lands' cycle, crucial for generating membrane asymmetry and diversity. This work advances understanding of lysophospholipid acyltransferases and their roles in cell membranes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cell membranes utilize glycerophospholipids for structure and function.
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids are asymmetrically located at the sn-2 position of glycerophospholipids.
- Membrane asymmetry and diversity are generated via the Kennedy pathway and the Lands' cycle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in understanding the enzymes involved in the Lands' cycle.
- To highlight the cloning and characterization of lysophospholipid acyltransferases.
- To elucidate the contribution of these enzymes to membrane asymmetry and diversity.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on enzyme cloning and characterization.
- Identification of enzymes within the 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase and membrane-bound O-acyltransferase families.
Main Results:
- Several enzymes involved in the remodeling pathway (Lands' cycle) have been recently isolated.
- These enzymes belong to both the 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase and membrane-bound O-acyltransferase families.
- Characterization of these enzymes provides insights into their roles in membrane lipid metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Recent discoveries have shed light on previously uncharacterized enzymes of the Lands' cycle.
- Lysophospholipid acyltransferases play a significant role in establishing membrane asymmetry and diversity.
- Further research on these enzymes will enhance our understanding of cellular membrane dynamics.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Lipid Catabolism
Triglycerides serve as crucial long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms, providing a dense source of metabolic energy. Their breakdown is mediated by lipases, which hydrolyze triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each of these components follows distinct metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to ATP synthesis and cellular energy homeostasis.Glycerol MetabolismGlycerol, released from triglyceride hydrolysis, is phosphorylated by glycerol kinase to form...
01:28Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
01:32Lipids as Anchors
In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
01:24Phase II Reactions: Acetylation Reactions
Acetylation, a phase II biotransformation reaction, introduces an acetyl group to drugs or their metabolites. Acetyltransferase enzymes facilitate this reaction, which resembles α-amino acid conjugation due to the addition of a functional group to the drug molecule.
The substrates for acetylation are typically drugs or their metabolites with an amino, sulfonamide, or hydrazine functional group. Acetylation can occur at several points in the drug molecule, including primary, secondary, and...
The substrates for acetylation are typically drugs or their metabolites with an amino, sulfonamide, or hydrazine functional group. Acetylation can occur at several points in the drug molecule, including primary, secondary, and...
01:35Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
01:27Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The ER synthesizes lipids for building cell membranes and performing cellular functions such as energy storage and signaling. The lipid synthesis machinery embedded in the ER membrane primarily collects all reactants from the cytosol. Following synthesis, the secretory pathway and the ER contact sites distribute these lipids to other cellular organelles. Additionally, the energy-rich triacylglycerides are transported from the ER via lipid droplets.
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...