Abstract
In cell membranes, two different methyltransferases catalyse the conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) into phosphatidylcholine (PC) using S-adenosylmethionine as methyl donor. This methylating process may affect various membrane functions. Thus, in erythrocytes, the accumulation of phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine, the product of the first methylation step of PE, increases membrane fluidity1 and Ca2+-ATPase activity2. In addition, methylation of PE in various cell types is increased when different agonists interact with their receptors leading to changes in calcium flux3 and in adenylate cyclase and phospholipase A2 activities4,5. However, the existence of a causal relationship between methylation of phospholipids and cell stimulation is questionable and here we present evidence against such a relationship in the case of the platelets stimulated to aggregate.
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Randon, J., Lecompte, T., Chignard, M. et al. Dissociation of platelet activation from transmethylation of their membrane phospholipids. Nature 293, 660–662 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/293660a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/293660a0
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