PLCXD1: Proteins and Enzymes

Phospholipases are a group of enzymes that hydrolyze phospholipids into fatty acids and other lipophilic molecules. PLC is subdivided into beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta and eta subtypes, which catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 and DAG both have important second messenger functions. PLC-beta is primarily activated by Gq/11 proteins and PLC-gamma is activated by phosphorylation in response to a variety of growth factor and immune system signals. Phospholipases are ubiquitously expressed and have diverse biological functions including roles in inflammation, cell growth, signaling and death and maintenance of membrane phospholipids.