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🧠 Brain support 🧬 Cell removal signal
phosphatidylserine

phosphatidylserine

1 9.9
A fat-like substance in cell membranes that tells the body to remove dying cells
  • noun
  • /ˌfɑs.fəˌtaɪ.dəlˈsɪr.iːn/
  • Specialized
: fosfatidilserina
  • The presence of phosphatidylserine on the surface of dying cells plays a crucial role in the process of cell removal.
  • phosphatidylserine externalization
  • bind to phosphatidylserine
  • phosphatidylserine receptor

Examples

  • During programmed cell death, phosphatidylserine moves from the inner to the outer layer of the cell membrane.

  • Researchers use phosphatidylserine as a marker to identify cells undergoing apoptosis in laboratory studies.

  • The presence of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface signals the immune system to remove dying cells.

  • The phosphatidylserine levels in the cell membranes are crucial for signaling.

  • Can you explain the role of phosphatidylserine in apoptosis?

  • During apoptosis, the externalization of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface signals immune cells to remove dying cells.

  • Researchers found that phosphatidylserine acts as a marker for macrophages to detect and clear apoptotic cells.

Surface Forms

phosphatidylserine singular
phosphatidylserines plural

Morphology

phosphatidylserine = serine (opaque) = phosphatidyl + serine

Although morphologically composed of a 'phosphatidyl' group + 'serine', the term is specialised biochemical nomenclature requiring domain knowledge, so it is not derivable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Phosphatidylserine comes from two parts: phosphatidyl (from phosphate, a chemical group) and serine (a small part of proteins). Because its 'phosphate' part can turn to the outside of a cell, phosphatidylserine acts like a tiny 'flag' that shows a cell is dying and should be removed.