Background of the antigen
Phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) is a major membrane phospholipid which serves to play a primary role in cell membrane structure and is also involved in cell division, cell signaling, activation, phagocytosis and autophagy. PCYT2 (Phosphorylethanolamine transferase), also known as Ethanolamine-phosphate cytidylyltransferase, is a 389 amino acid protein that catalyzes the formation of CDP-ethanolamine from ethanolamine. This product combined with diacylglycerol form phosphatidylethanolamine via the de novo Kennedy pathway. PCYT2 is expressed at highest levels in heart, liver and skeletal muscle. Elevated levels of MyoD, reduced content of Sp1 and a changed ratio of Sp1 to Sp3 all together stimulate upregulation of PCTY2 transcription during C2C12 muscle cell differentiation. Disruption of the PCYT2 gene in mice leads to death after embryo implantation, establishing the necessity of PCYT2 for murine development.
