Signaling at the membrane interface by the DGK/SK enzyme family.

ABSTRACT: The sphingosine (SK) and diacylglycerol (DGK) kinases have become the subject of considerable focus recently due to their involvement as signaling enzymes in a variety of important biological processes. These lipid signaling kinases are closely related by sequence as well as functional properties. These enzymes are soluble, yet their substrates are hydrophobic. Therefore, they must act at the membrane interface. Second, for both of these enzyme families, their substrates (diacylglycerol for DGKs, sphingosine for SKs) as well as their products (phosphatidic acid for DGK, sphingosine-1-phosphate for SK) have signaling function. To understand how the signaling processes emanating from these kinases are regulated it is critical to understand the fundamental mechanisms that control their enzyma

SUBMITTER: Raben DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2674751 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature