Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is a fundamental phospholipid and major structural component of cellular membranes in animals and bacteria. Its importance extends beyond its role as a building block, playing a role in energy metabolism, autophagy, and cell signaling. PE is essential for the assembly and stability of electron transport chain supercomplexes, directly influencing the efficiency of oxphos and cellular energy (ATP) production. It is also a crucial precursor for the synthesis of cardiolipin, another vital mitochondrial phospholipid. Through the process of PE conjugation (pexophagy), it is attached to proteins like LC3-II, facilitating the formation of autophagosomes-the vesicles central to autophagy. PE serves as a reservoir for signaling lipids and is involved in membrane fusion and fission events. It acts as a chaperone during the formation of membrane proteins and is involved in secretion of VLDL. Dysregulation of PE metabolism appears to be involved in several medical conditions such as RCDP, a severe peroxisomal disorder, neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons, hepatic problems like NAFLD and NASH and cancer, where rewiring of lipid metabolism is used to support proliferation, membrane synthesis and resistance to cell death. AkrivisBio’s Phosphatidylethanolamine Assay is a simple, specific and sensitive way to measure PE content in a wide range of biological materials with a sensitivity below 200 picomoles per well.
