title: Phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and function in bacteria.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad s/n, Apdo. Postal 565-A, Cuernavaca, Morelos, CP62210, Mexico. otto@ccg.unam.mx
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.forename: Isabel M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: López-Lara
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sohlenkamp
mesh_terms: D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003567:Cytidine Diphosphate Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D003568:Cytidine Monophosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D050941:Phosphatidyl-N-Methylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism; D016962:Sinorhizobium meliloti / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003567:Cytidine Diphosphate Diglycerides; D007527:Isoenzymes; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D050941:Phosphatidyl-N-Methylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups); C483298:CDP-diacylglycerol choline O-phosphatidyltransferase; D003568:Cytidine Monophosphate; D002794:Choline