title: Functions and biosynthesis of plasmalogens in health and disease.
abstract: Plasmalogens (1-O-alk-1'-enyl-2-acyl glycerophospholipids) constitute a special class of phospholipids characterized by the presence of a vinyl-ether bond at the sn-1 position. Although long considered as biological peculiarities, interest in this group of phospholipids has grown in recent years, thanks to the realization that plasmalogens are involved in different human diseases. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge with respect to the enzymatic synthesis of plasmalogens, the characteristic topology of the enzymes involved and the biological roles that have been assigned to plasmalogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Academic Medical Center, Lab Genetic Metabolic Diseases, F0-224, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brites
authors.forename: Hans R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Waterham
authors.forename: Ronald J A
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wanders
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D010955:Plasmalogens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010955:Plasmalogens