CDP-DIACYLGLYCEROL SYNTHASE OF MICROORGANISMS

The synthesis and utilization of CDP-diacylglycerol in mammalian cells was demonstrated over 35 years ago when initial studies were carried out. However, CDP-diacylglycerol synthases and the genes encoding thes e enzymes have been studied in the greatest detail in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cervisiae. The involvement of CDP-diacylglycerol in regulation of phospholipid metabolism has recently been demonstrated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and evidence now exists from studies in D rosophila that this liponucleotide may be important in regulation of l ipid-dependent signal transduction processes. The vast amount of bioch emical and genetic information on the synthases from microorganisms ha s led to the cloning of genes that encode CDP-diacylglycerol synthases from somatic cells. The combination of information on these synthases from all organisms will lead to a clearer understanding of the role C DP-diacylglycerol plays in cellular processes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce B.V.