Phospholipid - Driven gene regulation

• Authors: Paul M. Musille, Emory University; Jeffrey A. Kohn, Emory University; Eric Ortlund, Emory University
• Journal Title: FEBS Letters
• Volume: Volume 587, Number 8
• Publisher: Wiley: 12 months | 2013-04-17, Pages 1238-1246
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2013.01.004
• Subjects: Chemistry, Biochemistry
• Keywords: Phospholipid; Nuclear receptor; Signaling; Transcriptional regulation

Abstract

Phospholipids (PLs), well known for their fundamental role in cellular structure, play critical signaling roles via their derivatives and cleavage products acting as second messengers in signaling cascades. Recent work has shown that intact PLs act as signaling molecules in their own right by modulating the activity of nuclear hormone transcription factors responsible for tuning genes involved in metabolism, lipid flux, steroid synthesis and inflammation. As such, PLs have been classified as novel hormones. This review highlights recent work in PL-driven gene regulation with a focus on the unique structural features of phospholipid-sensing transcription factors and what sets them apart from well known soluble phospholipid transporters.