title: N-acylation of phosphatidylethanolamine and its biological functions in mammals.
abstract: N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE) and N-acylplasmenylethanolamine (pNAPE) are widely found phospholipids, and they are precursors for N-acylethanolamines, a group of compounds that has a variety of biological effects and encompasses the endocannabinoid anandamide. NAPE and pNAPE are synthesized by the transfer of an acyl chain from a donor phospholipid, to the amine in phosphatidylethanolamine or plasmenylethanolamine. NAPE has been reported to stabilize model membranes during brain ischemia, and to modulate food intake in rodents, thus having bioactive effects besides its precursor role. This paper reviews the metabolism, occurrence and assay of NAPE and pNAPE, and discusses the putative biological functions in mammals of these phospholipids. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Phospholipids and Phospholipid Metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wellner
authors.forename: Thi Ai
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Diep
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janfelt
authors.forename: Harald Severin
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation; D000818:Animals; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010739:Phospholipase D / Q000378:metabolism; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; C022203:N-acylethanolamines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D010739:Phospholipase D; C078814:anandamide