Elucidating the biological significance of phospholipid species

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21379
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 43:Biology at molecular to cellular levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Aoki Junken 東京大学, 大学院薬学系研究科(薬学部), 教授 (20250219)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 脂肪酸 / 多様性 / 生物学的意義 / リン脂質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A group of enzymes called lysophospholipid acyltransferases (LPLATs) play an important role in the formation of the fatty acid composition of glycerophospholipids in the biological membranes. Most of the LPLAT molecules identified so far are responsible for the introduction into the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone. On the other hand, the LPLAT responsible for the introduction of fatty acids into the sn-1 position is unknown. In this study, we used a novel LPLAT activity assay to search for LPLATs involved in the introduction of fatty acids into the sn-1 position and identified LPEAT2 as the enzyme responsible for introducing oleic acid (18:1) into the phospholipid sn-1 position. KO mice were analyzed and LPEAT2 was found to be potentially involved in neuronal axon elongation.

Free Research Field

脂質生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

食事に含まれる脂肪酸が多様であるように、我々の細胞を構成する脂肪酸は多様である。この多様性の意義解明は、有効な脂肪酸栄養学に寄与するだけでなく、将来的な疾病予防、創薬につながる可能性がある。本研究で、脂肪酸多様性の意義として、特定な脂肪酸がリン脂質に取り込まれる機構が明らかになった。本研究成果をきっかけに、リン脂質の脂肪酸組成の多様性に意義に大きく近づける可能性がある。