Etherfosfolipidejä

Etherfosfolipidejä, also known as ether lipids, are a class of phospholipids characterized by an ether linkage between a glycerol backbone and a long-chain fatty alcohol, in contrast to the ester linkage found in typical glycerophospholipids. This ether linkage is generally more stable to hydrolysis.

The structure of ether phospholipids includes a glycerol molecule where one or more of the hydroxyl groups are ether-linked to alkyl or alkenyl chains. In the case of alkenyl ether lipids (plasmalogens), a vinyl ether linkage is present. The remaining hydroxyl groups are esterified with fatty acids and a polar head group, such as choline, ethanolamine, serine, or inositol.

Ether phospholipids are abundant in the cell membranes of various organisms, particularly in mammals, where they are enriched in specific tissues like the heart, brain, and immune cells. They play crucial roles in maintaining membrane fluidity and stability, signal transduction pathways, and protecting cells from oxidative damage.

Specific subclasses of ether phospholipids include diacylglyceryl ether, monoacylglyceryl ether, and alkylacylglyceryl ether. Plasmalogens, a significant type of ether phospholipid, contain an unsaturated fatty alcohol attached via a vinyl ether bond. Their unique structure and distribution suggest specialized functions beyond general membrane structure.