title: Properties and functions of diacylglycerol kinases.
abstract: Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) phosphorylate the second-messenger diacylglycerol (DAG) to phosphatidic acid (PA). The family of DGKs is well conserved among most species. Nine mammalian isotypes have been identified, and are classified into five subgroups based on their primary structure. DGKs contain a conserved catalytic domain and an array of other conserved motifs that are likely to play a role in lipid-protein and protein-protein interactions in various signalling pathways dependent on DAG and/or PA production. DGK is therefore believed to be activated at the (plasma) membrane where DAG is generated. Some isotypes are found associated with and/or regulated by small GTPases of the Rho family, presumably acting in cytoskeletal rearrangements. Others are (also) found in the nucleus, in association with other regulatory enzymes of the phosphoinositide cycle, and have an effect on cell cycle progression. Most DGK isotypes show high expression in the brain, often in distinct brain regions, suggesting that each individual isotype has a unique function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cellular Biochemistry, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. wblit@nki.nl
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: van Blitterswijk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Houssa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019852:Diacylglycerol Kinase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013347:Subcellular Fractions; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D019852:Diacylglycerol Kinase