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Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins and cellular nanoreactors for lipid signaling

Nature Chemical Biology volume 2, pages 576–583 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Membrane lipids function as structural molecules, reservoirs for second messengers, membrane platforms that scaffold protein assembly and regulators of enzymes and ion channels. Such diverse lipid functions contribute substantially to cellular mechanisms for fine-tuning membrane-signaling events. Meaningful coordination of these events requires exquisite spatial and temporal control of lipid metabolism and organization, and reliable mechanisms for specifically coupling these parameters to dedicated physiological processes. Recent studies suggest such integration is linked to the action of phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins that operate at the interface of the metabolism, trafficking and organization of specific lipids.

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Figure 1: A lipid metabolic nanoreactor.
Figure 2: Phospholipid transfer reaction.
Figure 3: PITP crystal structures.
Figure 4: The proposed Sec14p nanoreactor.
Figure 5: The Sec14-nodulin PITP family in A. thaliana.
Figure 6: The metazoan PITP family in humans.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the US National Institutes of Health to V.A.B. K.E.I. and G.S. were also supported by a Predoctoral Training Grant from the US National Institutes of Health and a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, respectively.

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  1. the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599-7090, North Carolina, USA

    Kristina E Ile, Gabriel Schaaf & Vytas A Bankaitis

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Ile, K., Schaaf, G. & Bankaitis, V. Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins and cellular nanoreactors for lipid signaling. Nat Chem Biol 2, 576–583 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio835

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