1-palmitoyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine

Description

## 1-Palmitoyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAzePC)

**1-Palmitoyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAzePC)** is a synthetic phospholipid. It's essentially a modified version of a naturally occurring phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine (PC).

**Structure:**

* **Palmitoyl (C16:0):** A saturated fatty acid chain with 16 carbon atoms.
* **Azelaoyl (C9:0):** A saturated fatty acid chain with 9 carbon atoms.
* **sn-Glycero-3-phosphocholine:** The backbone of the phospholipid, including the glycerol molecule and the choline head group.

**Importance in Research:**

PAzePC is particularly important for research in several areas:

1. **Lipid Metabolism & Signaling:**
* PAzePC is a valuable tool for studying lipid metabolism and signaling pathways. By incorporating it into model systems, researchers can analyze how different lipids interact with cellular processes.
* It can be used to investigate the role of specific lipids in various cellular functions, such as membrane fluidity, cell signaling, and enzyme activity.

2. **Membrane Structure & Function:**
* PAzePC can be incorporated into artificial membranes, like liposomes. This allows researchers to study how different lipids affect membrane properties and function.
* By varying the fatty acid composition of PAzePC, researchers can explore the relationship between lipid structure and membrane properties like permeability, fluidity, and stability.

3. **Drug Delivery & Nanomedicine:**
* PAzePC is used to design and develop new drug delivery systems. Its unique properties make it suitable for encapsulating various drugs and delivering them to specific targets within the body.
* Researchers are investigating the use of PAzePC-based liposomes to improve the efficiency and safety of drug delivery.

4. **Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering:**
* PAzePC is being explored for its potential in creating biocompatible materials for tissue engineering applications. Its biodegradability and biocompatibility make it suitable for constructing scaffolds for tissue regeneration.
* It can be used to mimic the natural environment of cells, fostering their growth and differentiation.

**In summary:**

PAzePC is a versatile synthetic phospholipid with several applications in research, including lipid metabolism, membrane studies, drug delivery, and biomaterials. Its ability to mimic natural lipids while offering specific structural modifications makes it a valuable tool for understanding complex biological processes and developing new therapeutic strategies.

1-palmitoyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine: structure in first source [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]

1-palmitoyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine : A 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine having palmitoyl and azelaoyl groups at positions 1 and 2 respectively. [Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]