Introduction

introduction An introduction to the Journal of Lipid Research Thematic Series on lysophospholipids Jerold Chun , Editorial Board 1 Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Department, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 It is a pleasure to introduce the latest JLR Thematic Se- Global Health and Medicine entitled “ Diversity and func- ries that will review the fi eld of lysophospholipids through tion of membrane glycerophospholipids generated by the Downloaded from a set of six reviews written by authoritative members of this remodeling pathway in mammalian cells. ” This review cov- fi eld. These reviews will introduce key concepts and up- ers important aspects in the generation of bioactive lipids date selected areas within this growing fi eld, particularly like LPA from the cell membrane. In the next month, we in those areas that have had signifi cant scientifi c and/or will continue an examination of glycerophospholipid de- medical impact. While not all areas of lysophospholipid rivatives through a major biosynthetic enzyme for LPA called www.jlr.org biology are discussed in this thematic series, these areas autotaxin (ENPP2), a lysophopholipase D that can remove are at least tangentially touched upon within the six reviews. choline from lysophosphatidylcholine to produce LPA. This The interested reader may delve more deeply through the important enzyme is reviewed by Wouter Moolenaar ’ s group primary literature cited within the reviews in topics such from the Netherlands Cancer Institute, in “ Autotaxin: at Kresge Library, The Scripps Research Institute, on May 7, 2015 as the enzymology of degradative pathways, nonvertebrate structure-function and signaling.” The next topic to be metabolism and activities, and possible nonreceptor actions covered will be from my group (Jerold Chun, series coor- of lysophospholipids that have appeared in the literature dinator, The Scripps Research Institute) that updates stud- and await confi rmation. ies on LPA receptors in a piece entitled “ LPA receptor Lysophospholipids are commonly produced from large signaling: pharmacology, physiology, and pathophysiology. ” pools of phospholipids that make up the cell membrane ’ s As we move through the summer months, our series will con- lipid bilayer. Membrane phospholipids can be generally tinue on the topic of S1P receptors from Timothy Hla ’ s divided into two major classes: glycerophospholipds and group at Cornell Weill Medical School through a contri- sphingolipids. The former includes molecules like phos- bution entitled “ An update on the biology of sphingosine phatidylcholine, which can be enzymatically metabolized 1-phosphate receptors . ” Continuing with new insights into to give rise to a diverse range of hundreds of chemical spe- S1P and its potential for cancer therapeutics, Sarah Spiegel’ s cies, including lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Complementing group at Virginia Commonwealth University contributes a these glycerophospholipids are the sphingolipids, particu- review entitled “ Export of sphingosine 1-phosphate and can- larly sphingomyelin, which are characterized by contain- cer progression . ” Our fi nal contribution for this JLR The- ing the constituent lipid sphingosine. Sphingosine can be matic Series reports on new lysophospholipid receptors released from sphingolipids through enzymatic steps and from Junken Aoki ’ s group at Tohoku University through phosphorylated to produce sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). recent studies on novel receptors for other species of Through the mid-1990s, these lipids were more com- glycerphospholipid-derived lysophospholipids in a piece monly treated as members of distinct, nonoverlapping entitled “ Novel lysophosphoplipid receptors; their struc- fi elds with limited biological and medicinal commonality ture and function. ” One additional note on the new recep- or relevance. However, once LPA and S1P cell surface receptors is that a codifi ed nomenclature has yet to be fi nalized, tors were identifi ed and found to share signifi cant homology so there may be changes with respect future receptor names. as members of a common family, the lysophospholipid We are indebted to Mary Chang and her staff for bring- fi eld coalesced, allowing synergistic progression. Currently, ing this project to fruition, and the Editors of the JLR, es- this fi eld includes thousands of publications touching on pecially Ed Dennis and Joe Wiztum, who suggested the a vast range of science, spanning fundamental chemistry project. On behalf of all of the authors, we hope this series through organismal development and approved medical provides an entry point for those new to the fi eld of lyso- therapeutics. phospholipids, and a useful update for our many colleagues The series begins with a review on glycerophospholipid within it and whom we thank profusely for their innumer- metabolism and function from Takao Shimizu ’ s group at able contributions to this dynamic and growing fi eld. the University of Tokyo and The National Center for 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. DOI 10.1194/jlr.E049403 e-mail: [email protected] Copyright © 2014 by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. 798 Journal of Lipid Research Volume 55, 2014 This article is available online at http://www.jlr.org.

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