Phospholipase D (PLD) catalyzed synthesis of phosphatidyl-glucose in biphasic reaction system

Presence of saccharides in glycophospholipids may increase its potential to form supramolecular structures, which are not only stable for an extended period of time as compared to other PLs like phosphatidylcholine, but may also confer an antioxidative property. Most syntheses routes for glycophospholipid involved the usage of toxic chemicals or solvents, complicated steps and low yield. The present work attempted to develop an enzymatic method for the production of glycophospholipids. Phosphatidyl-glucose (PL-Glu) was synthesized as a model glycophospholipid. The effects of organic solvents, water content, substrate ratio, pH and temperature on glycophospholipid yield (mol%) were examined in this study. Under optimum reaction conditions, more than 95 mol% of PL-Glu was obtained in 1.5 h. The conversion rate is significantly higher than previously reported findings. The established model reaction system in the present work was used to synthesize other types of glycophospholipid.

► A model system for synthesis of phosphatidyl-glucose has been successfully set up.
► Reaction conditions affecting the reaction system were carefully studied and elucidated.
► After optimization of reaction conditions, more than 95 mol% of PL-Glu was obtained.
► The PL-Glu synthesized was purified and its structure was confirmed using MS and NMR.