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Life Science > Metabolomics > Learning Center > Cardiolipin
Biochemicals

Cardiolipin


Cardiolipin is found predominantly in the membranes of mitochondria and bacteria. It is a unique diphosphatidylglycerol containing four acyl groups. In animal tissues 80% of the acyl groups are composed of linoleic acid (18:2(n-6)).

The identification of Barth’s syndrome, a disease associated with abnormalities in the fatty acid composition of cardiolipin causing cardiomyopathy and neutropenia, has displayed the importance of cardiolipin in mitochondrial functionality. Cardiolipin effects mitochondrial bioenergetics by providing essential structural and functional support to proteins localized within the mitochondria. Specifically, interaction of Cardiolipin with cytochrome oxidase and adenine nucleotide translocase is required in order for both of these mitochondrial enzymes to maintain activity.

Cardiolipin has been shown to perform a role in a number of other specific biological activities, including oxidative phosphorylation, apoptosis, cholesterol translocation and gene expression. Changes in cardiolipin concentrations and alterations to its acyl groups have lead to a variety of pathological conditions such as heart failure.

Product No. Description
C0563 ~98% (TLC), lyophilized powder, sodium salt
C5646 ~5 mg/mL in methanol, ~98% (TLC)
C1649 ~5 mg/mL in ethanol, ~98% (TLC)


Line drawing of Cardiolipin structure

Synonym:
1,3-Di(3-sn-phosphatidyl)-sn-glycerol


References

  1. McMillin, J. B.; Dowhan, W. Cardiolipin and apoptosis. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 2002, 1585, 97-107.
  2. Schlame, M.; Rua, D.; Greenberg, M. L. The biosynthesis and functional role of cardiolipin. Prog. Lipid Res. 2000, 39, 257-288.
  3. Chicco, A. J.; Sparagna, G. C. Role of cardiolipin alterations in mitochondrial dysfunction and disease. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 2007, 292, C33-C44.