The term
lysophospholipid (LPL) refers to any
phospholipid that is missing one of its two O-
acyl chains. Thus, LPLs have a free alcohol in either the sn-1 or the sn-2 position. The prefix 'lyso-' comes from the fact that lysophospholipids were originally found to be hemolytic, however it is now used to refer generally to phospholipids missing an acyl chain. LPLs are usually the result of
phospholipase A-type enzymatic activity on regular phospholipids such as
phosphatidylcholine or
phosphatidic acid, although they can also be generated by the acylation of glycerophospholipids or the phosphorylation of monoacylglycerols. Some LPLs serve important signaling functions such as
lysophosphatidic acid. ==Function==