Glyceryl-ether monooxygenase (AGMO) (AGMO)

Glyceryl-ether monooxygenase (AGMO) is a specialized transmembrane enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of the ether bond in alkylglycerols and lyso-ether phospholipids (UniProt Q6ZNB7). It is the only known enzyme capable of this reaction, utilizing tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and iron as essential cofactors to hydroxylate the alpha-carbon of the alkyl chain (Watschinger et al., 2010, PNAS). This process is vital for the degradation of ether lipids, which serve as important structural components of membranes and precursors for signaling molecules like platelet-activating factor (Werner et al., 2011, Biochem. Soc. Trans.). Research has linked AGMO activity and genetic variants to metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as inflammatory conditions like asthma (Giavarini et al., 2022, Front. Cell Dev. Biol.). Although AGMO represents a potential therapeutic target for modulating lipid signaling, there are currently no FDA-approved drugs that specifically target this enzyme, and its role in cancer progression remains an active area of investigation.

Other names

Alkylglycerol monooxygenase1-alkyl-sn-glycerol monooxygenaseGEMOMOAG

The enzyme catalyzes the hydroxylation of the C1 atom of the alkyl chain of 1-alkyl-sn-glycerols, requiring tetrahydrobiopterin and iron; the resulting unstable hemiacetal spontaneously collapses into a fatty aldehyde and glycerol (PubMed: 20439757).