Incorporation of free fatty acids can explain alterations in the molecular species composition of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in human erythrocytes as induced by Plasmodium falciparum

Cell Biol Int Rep. 1992 Jun;16(6):533-45. doi: 10.1016/s0309-1651(05)80052-9.

Abstract

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) species composition of human erythrocytes changes upon intraerythrocytic development of Plasmodium falciparum. Though the activity of the phosphotransferases which catalyze the last step of the Kennedy pathway for the synthesis of PC and PE is dependent of the species on diacylglycerol, it appeared that this cannot, by itself, explain the alterations found in PC and PE molecular species composition. When the incorporation of radiolabeled palmitic and stearic acids in PC and PE was studied, it became clear that differences in the incorporation of fatty acids in those phospholipids might be responsible for the observed alterations in their molecular species composition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diacylglycerol Cholinephosphotransferase / metabolism
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / metabolism*
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology*
  • Ethanolaminephosphotransferase / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / metabolism*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Humans
  • Membrane Lipids / biosynthesis*
  • Palmitic Acid
  • Palmitic Acids / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylcholines / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / metabolism*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / metabolism*
  • Stearic Acids / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Palmitic Acids
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • Stearic Acids
  • Palmitic Acid
  • stearic acid
  • Ethanolaminephosphotransferase
  • Diacylglycerol Cholinephosphotransferase