GLYCEROL PHOSPHORYLCHOLINE (GPC) AND SERINE ETHANOLAMINE PHOSPHODIESTER (SEP) - EVOLUTIONARY MIRRORED METABOLITES AND THEIR POTENTIAL METABOLIC ROLES

Water-soluble phosphodiesters (WSPDE) are a prominent feature of many P-31-NMR spectra; however, their role has remained somewhat of a myste ry. What has been missed in almost all previous studies is the fact th at two classes of WSPDE exist in vertebrates: those in mammals and tho se in the other (reptile-avian) line. The first is represented by glyc erol phosphorylcholine and the second by serine ethanolamine phosphodi ester. A further examination of the literature suggests a common role for all WSPDE as lysophospholipase inhibitors and therefore net sparer s of phospholipids by decreasing phospholipid metabolic throughput.