Submitted on January 27, 2006
Revised on March 2, 2006
Accepted on March 6, 2006
The sphingosine- and diacylglycerol-kinase superfamily of signaling kinases. Localization as a key to signaling function
Binks W. Wattenberg, Stuart M. Pitson, and Daniel M. Raben
Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202
Corresponding Author: b0watt01{at}louisville.edu
The sphingosine- and diacylglycerol-kinases form a superfamily of structurally related lipid signaling kinases. One of the striking features of these kinases is that although they are clearly involved in agonist-mediated signaling, this signaling is accomplished with only a moderate (and sometimes no) increase in the enzymatic activity of the enzymes. Here we summarize findings that indicate that signaling by these kinases is strongly dependent on their localization to specific intracellular sites rather than increases in enzyme activity. Both the substrates and products of these enzymes are bioactive lipids. Moreover many of the metabolic enzymes that act on these lipids are found in specific organelles. Therefore changes in membrane localization of these signaling kinases have profound effects not only on the production of signaling lipid phosphates and but also on the metabolism of the upstream signaling lipids.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
