Synthesis of a spin-labeled phospholipid for studying membrane dynamics in intact mammalian cells

We report here the synthesis of a spin-labeled phospholipid, 1-palmitoyl-2-(4-doxylpentanoyl)glycerophosphocholine. The synthetic route for this probe involves two major steps: 1) the synthesis of 4-doxylpentanoic acid from ethyl levulinate and 2-amino-2-methyl propanol, and 2) the synthesis of the lipid from 4-doxylpentanoic acid and lysolecithin. The efficiency and yield of both steps have been greatly improved. This represents the first instance that the synthesis of this important spin-labeled phospholipid is described in detail. Because it mimics the native lipid molecule and can be readily incorporated into biological membranes, this probe should be extremely useful for studying lipid dynamics in the plasma membrane of intact mammalian cells using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.