Biosynthetic pathways and physiological functions of choline plasmalogens

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06839
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48040:Medical biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Honsho Masanori 九州大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (90372747)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: コリンプラスマローゲン / エーテル型リン脂質 / 心臓 / 生合成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I attempted to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway and physiological function of choline plasmalogen, a type of ether phospholipid abundant in the heart. The main findings were summarized as follows: The amount of choline plasmalogen in the mouse heart is about 1/5 of that in the human heart. Inhibition of ethanolamine plasmalogen metabolism increased choline plasmalogens in human myocardium. Choline plasmalogens function to maintain or increase mitochondrial membrane potential from experiments in which purified choline plasmalogens were administered to cells.

Free Research Field

医化学関連

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

哺乳動物の心臓には、エーテルリン脂質の1種であるコリンプラスマロ―ゲンが多く存在するが、その生合成経路や生理機能は不明である。本研究では、コリンプラスマローゲン合成の前駆体を見出すとともに、コリンプラスマローゲンが心筋細胞のミトコンドリア機能を改善することを世界に先駆けて明らかにした。