Functions of inorganic polyphosphates in eukaryotic cells: a coat of many colours.
PolyP (inorganic polyphosphate) is a linear polymer of tens to hundreds of orthophosphate residues linked by high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds. This polymer is present in all living organisms from bacteria to mammals. Until recently, most of the studies on polyP have focused on its function in prokaryotes. In prokaryotes, polyP has been implicated in many unrelated processes ranging from basic metabolism to structural functions. However, polyP analysis and function in higher eukaryotes has been gaining momentum recently. In the present review, we mainly aim to discuss the proposed intracellular functions of polyP in higher eukaryotes and its detection methods.
*Cell Biology Unit, MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
Cristina
C
Azevedo
*Cell Biology Unit, MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
Adolfo
A
Saiardi
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D011122:Polyphosphates