title: The role of ether-linked glycerophospholipids in cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
abstract: We determined the contents of ether-linked glycerophospholipids of murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to evaluate their biological functions. After purifying each glycerophospholipid, we prepared diradylglycerobenzoates after hydrolysis with phospholipase C to separate them into three subclasses, 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-benzoates, 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-benzoates, and 1-O-alk-1'-enyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-benzoates. The results showed that the membrane of murine CTL consisted of a large amount of ether-linked glycerophospholipids; contents of 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-benzoates and 1-O-alk-1'-enyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-benzoates in the total phospholipid were 39.3% and 23.7%, respectively. From these results, it is considered that the ether-linked glycerophospholipids of the biological membranes not only contribute to the membrane stability but also exert a tumoricidal effect or induce cell differentiation by releasing ether-linked lipid metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishihira
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawamura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004987:Ethers / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D010712:Phosphatidic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D010712:Phosphatidic Acids; D010738:Type C Phospholipases