title: The ether lipid-deficient mouse: tracking down plasmalogen functions.
abstract: Chemical and physico-chemical properties as well as physiological functions of major mammalian ether-linked glycerolipids, including plasmalogens were reviewed. Their chemical structures were described and their effect on membrane fluidity and membrane fusion discussed. The recent generation of mouse models with ether lipid deficiency offered the possibility to study ether lipid and particularly plasmalogen functions in vivo. Ether lipid-deficient mice revealed severe phenotypic alterations, including arrest of spermatogenesis, development of cataract and defects in central nervous system myelination. In several cell culture systems lack of plasmalogens impaired intracellular cholesterol distribution affecting plasma membrane functions and structural changes of ER and Golgi cisternae. Based on these phenotypic anomalies that were accurately described conclusions were drawn on putative functions of plasmalogens. These functions were related to cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix interactions, formation of lipid raft microdomains and intracellular cholesterol homeostasis. There are several human disorders, such as Zellweger syndrome, rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, and Niemann-Pick type C disease that are distinguished by altered tissue plasmalogen concentrations. The role plasmalogens might play in the pathology of these disorders is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Abteilung Medizinische Zellbiologie, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gorgas
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teigler
authors.forename: Dorde
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Komljenovic
authors.forename: Wilhelm W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Just
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D020279:Hereditary Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D000074437:Peroxisomal Targeting Signal 2 Receptor; D010955:Plasmalogens / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000074437:Peroxisomal Targeting Signal 2 Receptor; D010955:Plasmalogens; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D002784:Cholesterol; D000217:Acyltransferases; C020051:glycerone-phosphate O-acyltransferase