title: Phospholipid synthesis, diacylglycerol compartmentation, and apoptosis.
abstract: Apoptosis is a means by which organisms dispose of unwanted cells without inducing an inflammatory response. Alterations in apoptosis is a common process by which cells become cancerous. Paradoxically, many cancer chemotherapeutics preferentially kill cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. Diacylglycerol is a lipid second messenger that regulates cell growth and apoptosis and is produced during signal transduction by hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids. Protein kinase Cs are a family of diacyglycerol responsive enzymes that are recruited to cellular membranes as a consequence of diacylglycerol production where they phosphorylate specific target proteins responsible for regulating cell growth. In this review, we will first summarize our current understanding of the role of specific proteins kinase C isoforms in the induction of cell growth/apoptosis. Subsequently, we will discuss how insights gained in lipid-mediated regulation of protein kinase Cs promotes our understanding of the role specific family members play in regulating cell growth. Finally, other diacylglycerol binding proteins involved in regulating apoptosis will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Atlantic Research Centre, IWK Health Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4H7, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: McMaster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005204:Farnesol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015290:Second Messenger Systems; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004075:Diglycerides; D010743:Phospholipids; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D005204:Farnesol; D011493:Protein Kinase C