Divergent and convergent signaling by the diacylglycerol second messenger pathway in mammals

• Published in: Current opinion in neurobiology Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 328 - 340
• Main Authors: Brose, Nils, Betz, Andrea, Wegmeyer, Heike
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Diacylglycerol Kinase - metabolism; Diglycerides - metabolism; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors - metabolism; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Protein Kinase C - metabolism; Second Messenger Systems - physiology; Signal Transduction - physiology; JNK; PLC; PKD; PKC; PLD; DAG; SNARE; NF-κ B; MEK; PC; PE; IP 3; PH; RasGRP; GPCR; Munc; PtdIns; RIN1; ERK
• ISSN: 0959-4388; 1873-6882
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2004.05.006

Diacylglycerol is an essential second messenger in mammalian cells. The most prominent intracellular targets of diacylglycerol and the functionally analogous phorbol esters belong to the protein kinase C family, but at least five alternative types of high affinity diacylglycerol/phorbol ester receptors are known: protein kinase D, diacylglycerol kinases α, β, and γ, RasGRPs, chimaerins, and Munc13s. These function independently of protein kinase C isozymes, and form a network of signaling pathways in the diacylglycerol second messenger system that regulates processes as diverse as gene transcription, lipid signaling, cytoskeletal dynamics, intracellular membrane trafficking, or neurotransmitter release.