Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 12, 2026

Identification of Inositol Phosphate or Phosphoinositide Interacting Proteins by Affinity Chromatography Coupled to Western Blot or Mass Spectrometry
08:07

Identification of Inositol Phosphate or Phosphoinositide Interacting Proteins by Affinity Chromatography Coupled to Western Blot or Mass Spectrometry

Published on: July 26, 2019

Lipid phosphatases in the immune system

G Krystal1

  • 1Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1L3. gerry@terryfox.ubc.ca

Seminars in Immunology
|September 21, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3,4,5-P(3) is crucial for cellular responses. This review summarizes key phosphatases (SHIP, SHIP2, PTEN) regulating its levels.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3,4,5-P(3) is a key signaling phospholipid.
  • Its levels rise upon growth factor stimulation via PI-3-kinase activation.
  • PI-3,4,5-P(3) regulates diverse biological responses to extracellular signals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current knowledge on three key enzymes regulating PI-3,4,5-P(3) levels.
  • To summarize the cloning and function of SHIP, SHIP2, and PTEN phosphatases.
  • To highlight the role of these phosphatases in cellular signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on SHIP, SHIP2, and PTEN.
  • Analysis of the role of these phosphatases in regulating PI-3,4,5-P(3) levels.
  • Synthesis of current understanding of their biological functions.

Main Results:

  • SHIP, SHIP2, and PTEN have been cloned within the last three years.
  • These enzymes play critical roles in controlling the cellular concentration of PI-3,4,5-P(3).
  • Their activity is essential for modulating cellular responses.

Conclusions:

  • SHIP, SHIP2, and PTEN are vital regulators of the PI-3,4,5-P(3) signaling pathway.
  • Understanding these phosphatases provides insight into cellular signaling.
  • Further research into these enzymes will elucidate their full biological significance.

More Related Videos

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes08:49

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes

Published on: March 14, 2021

A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA210:31

A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA2

Published on: September 26, 2025

Related Concept Videos

What are Lipids?02:05

What are Lipids?

Lipids are a group of structurally and functionally diverse organic compounds that are insoluble in water. Certain classes of lipids, such as fats, phospholipids, and steroids are crucial to all living organisms. They function as structural components of cellular membranes, energy reservoirs, and signaling molecules.Lipids are a Diverse Group of Hydrophobic MoleculesLipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are chemical compounds that consist of...
Membrane Lipids01:32

Membrane Lipids

Lipids are an essential component of all biological membranes. The average lipid content in mammalian membranes is 50%, though it can be as low as 20% in the inner mitochondrial membrane or as high as 80% in the myelin sheath present around the nerve cells.
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
Phosphoinositides and PIPs01:42

Phosphoinositides and PIPs

Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:27

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...