Biosynthesis of Phosphatidylethanolamine and Phosphatidylcholine via the Kennedy Pathway in Cancer and Other Pathological Conditions.

The de novo biosynthesis of two major glycerophospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, occurs through the Kennedy pathway. In this process, ethanolamine or choline is initially phosphorylated to phosphoethanolamine or phosphocholine, respectively, and subsequently converted by cytidylyltransferases into CDP-ethanolamine and CDP-choline. Dysregulation of this pathway has been implicated in various diseases. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the enzymatic components of the Kennedy pathway and their physiological roles. Furthermore, it explores the involvement of these enzymes in diseases, with particular emphasis on cancer, while also considering other conditions such as type II diabetes, obesity, and liver disorders. To assess potential links between Kennedy pathway enzymes and cancer, a bioinformatics analysis was conducted using data from the GEPIA portal, covering 33 different cancer types.