Phospholipase A2‐mediated synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine containing highly unsaturated fatty acids

Abstract
Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), which contains highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) specifically in sn‐2 position, was synthesized by porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2‐catalysed esterification of lysophosphatidylethanolamine with HUFA. the use of glycerol containing only a little water as solvent was the important key to this reaction. A 27% yield of up to 94.5%sn‐2 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)‐containing PE was obtained using >99% EPA as a substrate HUFA.