Phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and function in bacteria

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta 2013-03, Vol.1831 (3), p.503-513
• Main Authors: Geiger, Otto, López-Lara, Isabel M., Sohlenkamp, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agrobacterium tumefaciens - metabolism; Animals; bacteria; Bacterial phosphatidylcholine; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; biosynthesis; choline; Choline - metabolism; Cytidine Diphosphate Diglycerides - metabolism; Cytidine Monophosphate - metabolism; eukaryotic cells; Humans; Isoenzymes - metabolism; Membrane lipid biosynthesis; Methylation; Phosphatidyl-N-Methylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase - metabolism; Phosphatidylcholine synthase; phosphatidylcholines; Phosphatidylcholines - biosynthesis; phosphatidylethanolamines; Phosphatidylethanolamines - metabolism; Phospholipid N-methyltransferase; physicochemical properties; Sinorhizobium meliloti - metabolism; Species Specificity; Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) - metabolism
• ISSN: 1388-1981; 0006-3002; 1879-2618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2012.08.009

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the major membrane-forming phospholipid in eukaryotes and is estimated to be present in about 15% of the domain Bacteria. Usually, PC can be synthesized in bacteria by either of two pathways, the phospholipid N-methylation (Pmt) pathway or the phosphatidylcholine synthase (Pcs) pathway. The three subsequent enzymatic methylations of phosphatidylethanolamine are performed by a single phospholipid N-methyltransferase in some bacteria whereas other bacteria possess multiple phospholipid N-methyltransferases each one performing one or several distinct methylation steps. Phosphatidylcholine synthase condenses choline directly with CDP-diacylglycerol to form CMP and PC. Like in eukaryotes, bacterial PC also functions as a biosynthetic intermediate during the formation of other biomolecules such as choline, diacylglycerol, or diacylglycerol-based phosphorus-free membrane lipids. Bacterial PC may serve as a specific recognition molecule but it affects the physicochemical properties of bacterial membranes as well. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Phospholipids and Phospholipid Metabolism. ► About 15% of the Bacteria have phosphatidylcholine. ► Phosphatidylcholine synthase exists exclusively in bacteria. ► Bacterial phosphatidylcholine can act as a metabolic precursor. ► Bacterial phosphatidylcholine affects physicochemical properties of membranes.