1,2-bis(Heptanoylthio)glycerophosphocholine

1,2-bis(Heptanoylthio)glycerophosphocholine is a synthetic thiol phosphoglyceride lipid derived from D-mannitol which functions as a substrate for PLA₂ (phospholipase A₂). Hydrolysis of 1,2-bis(Heptanoylthio)glycerophosphocholine by PLA₂ produces free thiols, which may be derivitized with dithionitrobenzoic acid to form the chromophore for a spectrophotometric assay of intracellular and membrane-bound PLA₂ activity. Release of Arachidonic Acid from membrane phospholipids mediated by PLA₂ is thought to regulate eicosanoid production and marked PLA₂ activity is observed in correlation with inflammation states. Inhibitors of PLA₂ activity, presenting potential intervention upon the inflammatory role of PLA₂, have been identified using this assay design. 1,2-bis(Heptanoylthio)glycerophosphocholine is a substrate of PLA1.