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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #246775
Title: alpha-Tocopheryl phosphate – an active lipid mediator?

Author
item ZINGG, JEAN-MARC - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item MEYDANI, MOHSEN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item AZZI, ANGELO - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Molecular Nutrition and Food Research
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/24/2009
Publication Date: 2/18/2010
Citation: Zingg, J., Meydani, M., Azzi, A. 2010. alpha-Tocopheryl phosphate – an active lipid mediator?. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. 54:1-14.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol, alphaT) derivative, alpha-tocopheryl phosphate (alphaTP), is detectable in small amounts in plasma, tissues, and cultured cells. Studies done in vitro and in vivo suggest that alphaT can become phosphorylated and alphaTP dephosphorylated, suggesting the existence of enzyme(s) with alphaT kinase or alphaTP phosphatase activity, respectively. As a supplement, alphaTP is reaching plasma concentrations similar to alphaT and only a part is dephosphorylated; thus, alphaTP may act both as pro-vitamin E, but also as phosphorylated form of vitamin E with possibly novel regulatory activities. Many effects of alphaTP have been described: in the test tube, alphaTP modulates the activity of several enzymes; in cell culture alphaTP affects proliferation, apoptosis, signal transduction and gene expression; in animal studies alphaTP prevents atherosclerosis, ischemia/reperfusion injury, and induces hippocampal longterm potentiation. At the molecular level, alphaTP may act as a cofactor for enzymes, as an active lipid mediator similar to other phosphorylated lipids, or indirectly by altering membrane characteristics such as lipid rafts, fluidity and curvature. In this review the molecular and cellular activities of alphaTP are examined and the possible functions of alphaTP as a natural compound, cofactor and active lipid mediator involved in signal transduction and gene expression discussed.