1-Palmitoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine (16:0 LPE) is a form of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), a minor lipid found in low levels in plasma membranes and serum which is generated through PLA2. LPE has been shown to increase intracellular Ca2+, invasiveness, and migration in SKOV3 and MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, LPE accelerates ripening and increase the shelf-life of some fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, grapes, and cranberries. Lysophospholipids are lipid mediators which elicit a diverse array of cellular responses through activation of phospholipid specific G protein-coupled receptors.
