Production of complex ether glycerolipids from exogenous alkylglycerols by cell suspension cultures of rape

Abstract

Neutral and ionic ether glycerolipids, especially alkylacylglycerophosphocholines and 1′-alkenylacylglycerophosphocholines, are formed from exogenous 1-O-alkylglycerols, 1-O-(1′-alkenyl)glycerols or 2-O-alkylglycerols by photomixotrophic cell suspension cultures of rape (Brassica napus). Best yields of ether glycerolipids were obtained by incubating rape cells with optically active 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycerols. Racemic or symmetric alkylglycerols are also utilized by rape cell suspension cultures for the biosynthesis of optically active ionic ether glycerolipids. In contrast, 3-O-hexadecyl-sn-glycerol is not incorporated into ether glycerophospholipids of rape cells. Incorporation of the substrates into ionic ether lipids is dependent on chain length (C14>C16>C18) and degree of unsaturation (C18:1≫C18:0) of alkyl chains.