Biotransformation of alkylglycerols in plant cell cultures: production of platelet activating factor and other biologically active ether lipids.

Plant cells in culture are capable of incorporating exogenous 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycerols into various neutral and ionic ether lipids. 1-O-Alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines, the major class of compounds thus formed, are used for the preparation of platelet activating factor (PAF) in high yields. Similarly, the prochiral 2-O-alkyl-sn-glycerols are transformed to chiral 2-O-alkyl glycerophospholipids from which compounds can be obtained that exhibit antiviral activity in plant and animal cells. Reaction of 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines with phospholipase D in the presence of ethanolamine leads to 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamines, which serve as starting material for the preparation of 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(N-acyl)ethanolamines, compounds known to have antitumor activity.