1. Noun. (biochemistry) A phospholipid containing serine. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Medical Definition of Phosphatidylserine
1. The condensation product of phosphatidic acid and serine, found in biomembranes.
It is an important minor species of phospholipid in membranes. Serine is attached to phosphatidic acid by a phosphodiester linkage. Complete hydrolysis yields 1 mole of glycerol, phosphoric acid and serine and 2 moles of fatty acids.
Synthesis is from phosphatidylethanolamine by exchange of ethanolamine for serine. Distribution is asymmetric, as the molecule is only present on the cytoplasmic side of cellular membranes. It is negatively charged at physiological pH and interacts with divalent cations, involved in calcium dependent interactions of proteins with membranes (e.g. Protein kinase C).
See: cephalin.
(20 Sep 2002)
