Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026
09:33
In Vitro Assay to Measure Phosphatidylethanolamine Methyltransferase Activity
Published on: January 5, 2016
10.3K
Plasmenylethanolamine synthesis in Leishmania major
Mattie C Pawlowic1, Fong-Fu Hsu2, Samrat Moitra1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.
Molecular Microbiology
|April 11, 2016
Summary
Leishmania parasites lacking plasmenylethanolamine (PME) synthesis are viable but show impaired growth without serum, altered surface molecule expression, and reduced virulence. Ethanolamine is crucial for Leishmania membrane phospholipids and stress response.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Ethanolamine glycerophospholipids are vital cell membrane components.
- Leishmania parasites predominantly synthesize plasmenylethanolamine (PME), a subtype of ether phospholipids, via the Kennedy pathway.
- The precise functions of PME in Leishmania remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of PME synthesis in Leishmania major.
- To characterize the phenotype of an ethanolamine phosphotransferase (EPT)-null mutant lacking PME.
- To understand the contribution of ethanolamine to lipid metabolism and parasite virulence.
Main Methods:
- Generation and characterization of EPT-null Leishmania major parasites.
- Analysis of phospholipid synthesis and localization.
- Assessment of parasite viability, proliferation, and virulence in a mouse model.
Main Results:
- EPT-null parasites were devoid of PME but viable in standard medium, failing to proliferate without fetal bovine serum.
- Significant abnormalities in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored surface molecule synthesis and localization were observed.
- EPT-null mutants exhibited attenuated virulence in BALB/c mice.
- Ethanolamine was found to contribute to both PME and phosphatidylcholine synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Ethanolamine production is essential for Leishmania promastigotes to synthesize bulk phospholipids.
- Ethanolamine is critical for parasite stress handling and regulation of membrane-bound virulence factors.
- PME synthesis plays a significant role in Leishmania membrane integrity, surface molecule expression, and infectivity.
More Related Videos
08:17Deciphering the Molecular Mechanism and Function of Pore-Forming Toxins Using Leishmania major
Published on: October 28, 2022
2.0K
12:02An Efficient Method for the Synthesis of Peptoids with Mixed Lysine-type/Arginine-type Monomers and Evaluation of Their Anti-leishmanial Activity
Published on: November 2, 2016
12.6K
Related Concept Videos
01:27Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
4.5K
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...
4.5K
01:29Biosynthesis of Lipids
841
Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...
841
01:28Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
37.7K
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...
37.7K
01:35Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
10.9K
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%...
10.9K
01:19Formation of Lipopolysaccharides
909
Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are crucial components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, serving both structural and functional roles. It contributes to membrane stability and protects bacteria from host immune responses. LPS is composed of three major regions—lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and an O antigen. The biosynthesis and assembly of LPS involve a highly coordinated set of enzymatic reactions and transport mechanisms. Additionally, LPS is recognized as an endotoxin,...
909
01:28Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
4.4K
Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
4.4K