Phenolic lipid

Bilobol, an alkylresorcinol found in Ginkgo biloba

Phenolic lipids are a class of natural products composed of long aliphatic chains and phenolic rings.^[1] Phenolic lipids occur in plants, fungi and bacteria.

Types

• Alkylcatechols
• Alkylphenols (nonylphenol, cardanol)
• Alkylresorcinols
• Anacardic acids

Biological activity

Due to their strong amphiphilic character, the phenolic lipids can incorporate into erythrocytes and liposomal membranes. The ability of these compounds to inhibit bacterial, fungal, protozoan and parasite growth seems to depend on their interaction with proteins and/or on their membrane-disturbing properties.^[2]

Biological role

The phenolic lipid synthesis by type III polyketide synthases is essential for cyst formation in Azotobacter vinelandii.^[3]

See also

• Lipid

References

1. Baerson, S. R.; Schröder, J.; Cook, D.; Rimando, A. M.; Pan, Z.; Dayan, F. E.; Noonan, B. P.; Duke, S. O. (2010). "Alkylresorcinol biosynthesis in plants: New insights from an ancient enzyme family?". Plant Signaling & Behavior. 5 (10): 1286. doi:10.4161/psb.5.10.13062.
2. Stasiuk, M.; Kozubek, A. (2009). "Biological activity of phenolic lipids". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 67 (6): 841–860. doi:10.1007/s00018-009-0193-1. PMID 20213924.
3. Funa, N.; Ozawa, H.; Hirata, A.; Horinouchi, S. (2006). "Phenolic lipid synthesis by type III polyketide synthases is essential for cyst formation in Azotobacter vinelandii". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 103 (16): 6356–6361. doi:10.1073/pnas.0511227103. PMC 1458882. PMID 16597676.

External links

• http://www.cyberlipid.org/simple/simp0006.htm