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From peroxisomal disorders to common neurodegenerative diseases – the role of ether phospholipids in the nervous system
Author(s) -
Dorninger Fabian,
ForssPetter Sonja,
Berger Johannes
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1002/1873-3468.12788
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , ether , peroxisome , biochemistry , lipid raft , chemistry , biology , cholesterol , receptor , paleontology , organic chemistry
The emerging diverse roles of ether (phospho)lipids in nervous system development and function in health and disease are currently attracting growing interest. Plasmalogens, a subgroup of ether lipids, are important membrane components involved in vesicle fusion and membrane raft composition. They store polyunsaturated fatty acids and may serve as antioxidants. Ether lipid metabolites act as precursors for the formation of glycosyl‐phosphatidyl‐inositol anchors; others, like platelet‐activating factor, are implicated in signaling functions. Consolidating the available information, we attempt to provide molecular explanations for the dramatic neurological phenotype in ether lipid‐deficient human patients and mice by linking individual functional properties of ether lipids with pathological features. Furthermore, recent publications have identified altered ether lipid levels in the context of many acquired neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and autism. Finally, current efforts to restore ether lipids in peroxisomal disorders as well as AD are critically reviewed.