Beyond phospholipid remodelling: biosynthetic roles of lysophospholipid acyltransferases.

Abstract

Phospholipid remodelling is commonly used as an umbrella term for enzymatic changes in phospholipid fatty acyl chain composition after initial synthesis. This process is typically mediated by the Lands cycle, in which phospholipase-generated lysophospholipid intermediates are reacylated by lysophospholipid acyltransferases (LPLATs). However, not all lysophospholipid acylation reactions serve the same biological purpose. Some LPLAT activities remodel pre-existing phospholipid classes, tuning membrane properties by altering acyl chain composition. Others act as committed biosynthetic steps, generating defined phospholipid products whose acyl chains are integral to their identity and function. This distinction is essential for interpreting both enzyme function and lipidomics data, because individual phospholipid species may represent either molecular variants within a broader class or products with specific biological roles. In this review, I argue that grouping all lysophospholipid acylation reactions under the single label of phospholipid remodelling can obscure important biological differences. Separating remodelling from biosynthetic functions of mammalian LPLATs provides a clearer framework for understanding phospholipid metabolism, membrane organisation and mechanisms linking phospholipid metabolism to human disease.

Abstract as supplied by the indexing source. © the authors / publisher.