title: Regulation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase by amphitropism and relocalization.
abstract: Phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis in animal cells is generally controlled by cytidine 5'-triphosphate (CTP):phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT). This enzyme is amphitropic, that is, it can interconvert between a soluble inactive form and a membrane-bound active form. The membrane-binding domain of CCT is a long amphipathic alpha helix that responds to changes in the physical properties of PC-deficient membranes. Binding of this domain to membranes activates CCT by relieving an inhibitory constraint in the catalytic domain. This leads to stimulation of PC synthesis and maintenance of membrane PC content. Surprisingly, the major isoform, CCT alpha, is localized in the nucleus of many cells. Recently, a new level of its regulation has emerged with the discovery that signals that stimulate PC synthesis recruit CCT alpha from an inactive nuclear reservoir to a functional site on the endoplasmic reticulum.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6. cornell@sfu.ca
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Cornell
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Northwood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D019916:Choline-Phosphate Cytidylyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D019916:Choline-Phosphate Cytidylyltransferase