Signal Transduction (IND 447)

Lipid Signaling

Alan V. Smrcka Ph.D.

In this section we will explore the role of lipids as second messengers and a cofactors in signal transduction.  Central to this theme is the role of phophatidylinositols.  We have already learned about the classical role of this lipid in signal transduction.  A body of recent work have demonstrated that these lipids are highly versatile and involve in multiple aspects of cellular regulation.

The roles of other lipids such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, arachidonic acid, ceramide and sphingosine will also be discussed.

Course Handouts and Slides:

Lipid Signaling (3/18/2004)

References

Required Reading (Spring 2004)

Stokoe, D., et al. (1997) Dual role of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate in the activation of protein kinase B. Science 277:567-570.

Maehama, T., Dixon, J.E. (1998) The tumor suppressor, PTEN/MMAC1, dephosphorylates the lipid second messenger, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. J. Biol. Chem. 273:13375-13378.