Metabolism of unusual membrane phospholipids in the marine sponge Microciona prolifera

Sponges are unique in regard to membrane phospholipid composition. Features virtually without parallel in other organisms are the predominance of the C26-C30 polyenoic acids (demospongic acids) in the phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) and the attachment of identical acyl groups to the glycerol moiety. The biosynthesis and disposition of these unusual phospholipids were followed in the marine sponge Microciona prolifera where PE ( delta 5,9-26:2, delta 5,9-26:2) is a major molecular species. Incorporation experiments with radiolabeled fatty acids, bases, and intact phospholipids revealed the de novo biosynthesis of the two major phosphatides, phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) and phosphatidylcholines (PC), via the cytidine pathway as in higher animals, with ethanolamine selectively incorporated into PE( delta 5,9-26:2, delta 5,9-26:2). Methylation of PE and random acyl chain migration across different phospholipid classes were marginal, but the exchange of PC for PE, apparently mediated by the action of phospholipase, was indicated after uptake of the unnatural PC( delta 9-27:1, delta 9-26:1). The present study demonstrates in the most primitive multicellular animals a phospholipid metabolic pattern similar to that in higher organisms, with unique acyl and phosphoethanolamine transferases apparently involved in the biosynthesis of the (demospongic) di-C26-acyl-PE molecular species.