Modification of Cellular Phospholipid Composition and Consequences for Membrane Structure and Function

Over the past few years, my laboratory has been engaged in studies on phospholipid metabolism using the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila as a model system for eukaryotic phospholipid metabolism (Smith, 1983; Smith, 1984; Smith, 1986b; Smith, et al, 1992b; Smith and O’Malley, 1978). Tetrahymena is characterized by having high concentrations of phosphonolipids — 2-aminoethylphosphonoglyceride and 2-aminoethylphos-phonoceramide — as well as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine as the major phospholipids (Smith, 1985; Smith and Giegel, 1981; Smith and Giegel, 1982; Smith, et al., 1992; Smith and O’Malley, 1978; Thompson, 1972; Thompson, et al, 1971).