Phosphatidic Acid (PA)

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is an important phospholipid that participates in numerous biological processes, including in the role of a precursor for many lipids and as a signaling lipid itself. It thus acts as an important player within cell membrane dynamics and intracellular signaling pathways, including those which regulate lipid biosynthesis. BOC Sciences provides a variety of PA for different applications. Our high-quality PA products are perfectly suited for your liposome preparation needs. Besides, through our expert research and development team and comprehensive service system, BOC Sciences offers custom liposome services to meet the unique requirements of our customers.

What is Phosphatidic Acid?

Phosphatidic acid (PA) represents a typical phospholipid and a constituent of cell membranes. PA is the simplest diacylglycerophospholipid and parent compound of glycerophospholipids. It is a glycerophospholipid, consisting of a glycerol backbone esterified with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate group. The latter structure confers an amphipathic nature on PA, hence enabling its incorporation into the lipid bilayer and modulation of membrane fluidity and integrity. It is used as a precursor in the synthesis of several different phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, and thus it plays a key role in the structure and function of cellular membranes. Phosphatidic acid is not only playing a structural role, but it also actively participates in cellular signaling and regulation of metabolism.

Phosphatidic Acid Structure

The structure of phosphatidic acid has a backbone of glycerol. The chemical structure of PA originates from glycerol. It is formed by substituting the hydroxyl in position 1 of the glycerol molecule with a saturated fatty acyl group, the hydroxyl in position 2 with an unsaturated fatty acyl group, and the hydroxyl in position 3 with a phosphate group (esterification of the fatty acid). The chemical structure of phosphatidic acid consists of a glycerol backbone esterified to two fatty acids and a phosphate group. However, the chain length and degree of saturation of the fatty acids can vary substantially. These features affect the biophysical properties of PA and its interaction with cellular membranes. For example, unsaturated fatty acids increase membrane fluidity, while saturated fatty acids enhance membrane stability. This structural diversity enables phosphatidic acid to enter a wide array of interactions within biological membranes, serving as a fundamental component of cellular architecture and function.

Structure of phosphatidic acid. (Tanguy, E.; et al, 2018)

Phosphatidic Acid Function

Phosphatidic acid participates in several important cellular physiological processes, mainly acting as a signaling molecule and also as the precursor for various lipids. Its multifunctional roles encompass the following key areas:

• Signaling Molecule: Phosphatidic acid (PA) is one such signaling lipid that has been identified as an important second messenger of cellular processes. It directly activates mTOR, which controls cell growth, metabolism, and protein synthesis, hence enhancing protein translation and cell proliferation.
• Regulation of Lipid Metabolism: Phosphatidic acid (PA) is an important metabolite involved in lipid metabolism. It is an essential precursor for the synthesis of triacylglycerols and phospholipids. In addition, it is the immediate precursor to DAG, which in turn is absolutely required for the synthesis of triacylglycerol in adipose tissue and, therefore, of major importance for lipid storage and mobilization.
• Membrane Dynamics: Phosphatidic acid (PA) maintains cell membrane integrity and fluidity. It is amphipathic, and thus it integrates into the lipid bilayer, affecting membrane properties and curvature, which allows for vesicle formation and fusions that enable intracellular transport.
• Vesicle Trafficking: Phosphatidic acid (PA) is an important regulator of vesicle trafficking in both endocytosis and exocytosis-major pathways through which nutrient uptake is carried out and products secreted. This phospholipid regulates the dynamics of vesicle membranes, orchestrating the movement of membrane-bound proteins and molecules.
• Cell Growth and Differentiation: Phosphatidic acid (PA) exerts a regulatory function in cell growth and differentiation, a process through which a balance between proliferation and apoptosis is maintained. In myocytes, it stimulates myogenic differentiation and cellular hypertrophy, features that make this enzyme relevant to muscular growth and repair.

Phosphatidic Acid Benefits

• Improved Muscle Growth and Recovery: PA exerts its renowned effect on muscle hypertrophy and recovery. Evidence from literature indicates that muscle cell protein synthesis is higher when supplementation with PA is used, hence increased muscle growth and recovery post-exercise. It is a helpful compound for those athletes and bodybuilders who want to have the best results.
• Improved Lipid Metabolism: As a precursor for both triglycerides and phospholipids, phosphatidic acid maintains a very significant position in the process of lipid metabolism. Such regulation would help in keeping the lipid profile healthy to avoid metabolic disorders supportive of overall metabolic health.
• Cellular Signaling and Growth Regulation: Many important signaling pathways implicate phosphatidic acid in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and survival. Due to its ability to activate mTOR signaling, it thus enables cells to adapt to nutrient availability-a process crucial for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis.
• Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Evidence from several studies suggests that phosphatidic acid can modulate inflammatory responses and, therefore, reduce their intensity in various conditions. Such properties are important for the maintenance of good immune health and might even extend to diseases that have an inflammatory component.
• Cognitive Benefits: Preliminary studies in the field indicate that PA exerts neuroprotective actions, which have been seen to protect memory and cognition. This prospect opens the door toward the use of this acid in neurological disorders that present with neural tissue degeneration.

Production and Degradation of Phosphatidic Acid

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a critical lipid that serves as a precursor for various phospholipids and plays an essential role in cellular signaling. Its production and degradation are tightly regulated processes, ensuring that cellular PA levels are maintained in accordance with physiological needs.

Biosynthesis of Phosphatidic Acid

The synthesis of phosphatidic acid proceeds mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria via a few different key pathways. The two major routes of production of PA are as follows:

1. De Novo Synthesis

The most common biosynthetic pathway of PA occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum, where glycerol-3-phosphate gets acylated by fatty acids. This reaction is catalyzed by the action of the enzyme GPAT (glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase), which leads to the production of lysophosphatidic acid that is further acylated into phosphatidic acid by other acyltransferases.

2. Phospholipid Hydrolysis

It can also be produced by hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The enzyme phospholipase D catalyzes the reaction giving rise to PA and, thus, is involved in its role as a signaling molecule.

Synthesis of phosphatidic acid is highly regulated by nutrient availability, hormonal signals, and cellular stressors. Such tight regulation usually ensures the maintenance of appropriate levels of PA for demands related to cellular signaling and metabolism.

Degradation of Phosphatidic Acid

Degradation of phosphatidic acid is an important process in relation to its synthesis, to ensure the cellular levels of PA do not become excessive and to maintain lipid homeostasis. Two main pathways of PA degradation include:

1. Dephosphorylation

Phosphatidic acid can be dephosphorylated to form diacylglycerol (DAG):

• Phosphatidic Acid Phosphatase (PAP): Phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP) is the enzyme that catalyzes the dephosphorylation of phosphatidic acid to DAG. It plays a vital role in lipid signaling pathways and participates in a number of cellular processes such as cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Until now, there are two major classes of PAP called LPP and MDP, having distinct cellular functions and mechanisms of regulation.

2. Lipid Peroxidation

Under oxidative stress conditions, phosphatidic acid may undergo lipid peroxidation and yield reactive aldehydes, among other breakdown products. In relation to this, it may affect membrane integrity and cellular function.

3. Recycling Pathways

Breakdown products of phosphatidic acid can be taken into the recycling pathways of lipid biosynthesis. Thus, these feed into the synthesis of new phospholipids or re-enter the cycle of PA production.

Advantages of Phosphatidylserine from BOC Sciences

BOC Sciences offers high-quality phosphatidic acid products that present several advantages for researchers and industry professionals. Here are some key benefits:

• High Purity and Quality: BOC Sciences guarantees high-purity phosphatidic acid products, minimizing contaminants and making them ideal for sensitive biological applications and research, such as drug development and cellular studies.
• Optimal Production Processes: The optimized production processes at BOC Sciences ensure efficient and consistent supply of phosphatidic acid, providing researchers with reliable materials for their experiments and formulations.
• Comprehensive Product Range: BOC Sciences offers a diverse range of phosphatidic acid derivatives, allowing researchers to select the most appropriate forms for various applications, including cellular signaling studies and lipid metabolism research.
• Custom Synthesis Services: For specialized needs, BOC Sciences provides custom synthesis services, enabling clients to request specific phosphatidic acid formulations or derivatives tailored to their experimental requirements.

Phosphatidylserine stands out as not only a multifunctional but highly critical phospholipid in human organisms, containing many biological functions and therapeutic perspectives. The company BOC Sciences keeps its word in the supply of quality products regarding contribution to scientific advances and innovations within the area of drug development.

Reference

1. Tanguy, E.; et al. Protein-Phospholipid Interaction Motifs: A Focus on Phosphatidic Acid. Biomolecules. 2018, 8(2): 20.