Biology of Phosphoinositides

Book excerpt: This is a review of the current opinions on lipid signalling research with an emphasis on the integration of the use of lipid signals in signal transduction and membrane trafficking. These two areas have traditionally been seen as separate, but in the light of recent research it has become apparent that any work in this area must include the two, as this book does. In the text, control of synthesis, translocation, and degradation of phosphoinositides is given extensive coverage; there is specific discussion of the PH and FYVE lipid binding domains that allow lipids to control the movement, location, and activation-state of membrane proteins; the regulation of phospholipase C, phospholipase D, the phosphoinositide-3-kinases, chloride channel conductance by inositol (3,4,5,6) tetraphosphate, and of cytoskeletal protein activity by inositol lipids are all covered in depth.