Choline plasmalogen synthesis by the methylation pathway in chick neurons in culture.

Choline plasmalogens represent a minor component of lipid membranes in most tissues. In spite of this, their rapid turnover indicates a possible functional role in the cell. The present study demonstrates that these compounds can be synthesized in neuronal cell cultures from chick embryo hemispheres by methylation of ethanolamine plasmalogens since choline plasmalogens were labeled after incubation of cells with tritiated ethanolamine or methionine. This finding could be of a particular interest since it has been suggested that choline plasmalogens, synthesized by methylation, might be involved in receptor activation.