Imaging and manipulating phosphoinositides in living cells

摘要: Phosphoinositides are minor phospholipid constituents of virtually every biological membrane yet they play fundamental roles in controlling membrane-bound signalling events. produced from phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) by phosphorylation one or more three positions (3, 4 and 5) the inositol headgroup located at cytoplasmic interface distinct families lipid kinases. Intriguingly, many kinase reactions catalysed than form kinases even simple organisms these enzymes often assume non-redundant functions. A similar diversity is seen with inositide phosphatases, that dephosphorylate phosphoinositides a certain degree specificity impairments which linked to human diseases. This multiplicity enzyme level together universal lipids cell regulation assumes spatially functionally restricted specific compartments. Studying compartmentalized cellular represents major methodological challenge. Over last 10 years significant progress has been made creating reagents can monitor changes live cells fluorescence confocal microscopy. New methods also being developed manipulate compartments regulated fashion. article recalls some historical aspects research describes new advances highlighting their great potential as well problems encounter use.