Phosphatidylinositols (PIPs) are lipid molecules that have been known since the 1950s. Today, these molecules are commonly viewed as second messengers that regulate a wide range of biochemical reactions. PIPs are composed of phosphate, two inositol rings, and one glycerol unit. They function as a substrate for enzymes and receptors that produce signals for a wide range of biological processes, such as cell growth and differentiation, cell movement, muscle contraction, and secretion.
The basic components of PIPs are phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(OH)P), and phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate (PI(OH) 2P). PI, a precursor of other PIPs, is Polabo produced by phosphorylation of diacylglycerol (DAG). Once formed, PI is either further phosphorylated or hydrolyzed into DAG.
In addition to PI, several derivatives of PI such as PI(OH)P, PI(OH) 2P, and PI 3-kinase products have been found to be involved in several cellular activities.
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