Lysophospholipids in the limelight: autotaxin takes center stage.
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a serum phospholipid that evokes growth factor-like responses in many cell types through the activation of its G protein-coupled receptors. Although much is known about LPA signaling, it has remained unclear where and how bioactive LPA is produced. Umezu-Goto et al. (2002)(this issue, page 227) have purified a serum lysophospholipase D that generates LPA from lysophosphatidylcholine and found it to be identical to autotaxin, a cell motility-stimulating ectophosphodiesterase implicated in tumor progression. This result is surprising, as there was previously no indication that autotaxin could act as a phospholipase.
Division of Cellular Biochemistry, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands. w.moolenaar@nki.nl
Wouter H
WH
Moolenaar
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D005956:Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D043264:Phosphodiesterase I; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011755:Pyrophosphatases; D000099189:Lysophospholipase D
D005956:Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D043264:Phosphodiesterase I; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D011755:Pyrophosphatases; D000099189:Lysophospholipase D