Phospholipid Methylation and Biological Signal Transmission
10.1126/science.6157192
Crossref journal-article
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Science (221)
Abstract

Many types of cells methylate phospholipids using two methyltransferase enzymes that are asymmetrically distributed in membranes. As the phospholipids are successively methylated, they are translocated from the inside to the outside of the membrane. When catecholamine neurotransmitters, lectins, immunoglobulins or chemotaxic peptides bind to the cell surface, they stimulate the methyltransferase enzymes and reduce membrane viscosity. The methylation of phospholipids is coupled to Ca 2+ influx and the release of arachidonic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine, and prostaglandins. These closely associated biochemical changes facilitate the transmission of many signals through membranes, resulting in the generation of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate in many cell types, release of histamine in mast cells and basophils, mitogenesis in lymphocytes, and chemotaxis in neutrophils.

Bibliography

Hirata, F., & Axelrod, J. (1980). Phospholipid Methylation and Biological Signal Transmission. Science, 209(4461), 1082–1090.

Authors 2
  1. Fusao Hirata (first)
  2. Julius Axelrod (additional)
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Dates
Type When
Created 18 years, 10 months ago (Oct. 5, 2006, 1:45 p.m.)
Deposited 1 year, 7 months ago (Jan. 14, 2024, 10:47 a.m.)
Indexed 3 weeks, 5 days ago (July 30, 2025, 11 a.m.)
Issued 44 years, 11 months ago (Sept. 5, 1980)
Published 44 years, 11 months ago (Sept. 5, 1980)
Published Print 44 years, 11 months ago (Sept. 5, 1980)
Funders 0

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@article{Hirata_1980, title={Phospholipid Methylation and Biological Signal Transmission}, volume={209}, ISSN={1095-9203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.6157192}, DOI={10.1126/science.6157192}, number={4461}, journal={Science}, publisher={American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}, author={Hirata, Fusao and Axelrod, Julius}, year={1980}, month=sep, pages={1082–1090} }