Ethanolamine metabolism pathway

The ethanolamine metabolism pathway refers to the cellular processes that convert ethanolamine into vital biomolecules such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a key phospholipid component of cellular membranes. In eukaryotes, the primary route is the CDP-ethanolamine (Kennedy) pathway, which occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum via three sequential enzymatic reactions: ethanolamine kinase phosphorylates ethanolamine, CTP:phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase (Pcyt2/ET) forms CDP-ethanolamine, and diacylglycerol ethanolamine phosphotransferase synthesizes PE. This pathway is essential for proper cell structure and function; disruption can cause severe developmental defects and metabolic disease[1][7]. In bacteria, ethanolamine metabolism plays a role in nitrogen assimilation and can occur via distinct mechanisms, with some pathways producing toxic intermediates (e.g., acetaldehyde) that are often sequestered in specialized bacterial microcompartments, while others (such as in Streptomyces coelicolor) proceed via alternative gamma-glutamylation routes without toxic by-products[3][5]. Alterations in ethanolamine metabolism are implicated in cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic diseases[1][6][8]. While individual enzymes in the pathway may serve as drug targets, the pathway itself is not a single molecular target but rather a metabolic network.

Other names

Ethanolamine catabolismPE synthesis pathwayCDP-ethanolamine pathwayKennedy pathway

Inhibition of ethanolamine cytidylyltransferase (ET/Pcyt2), leading to suppression of PE synthesis[1]