What Is a Phospholipase?
A phospholipase is a member of a very complex group of enzymes that break down phospholipids into fatty acids and other compounds. Phospholipids contain fatty acids, a phosphate group, and frequently a diglyceride group. This is a compound with two glycerol groups. Phospholipids are components of all membranes in cells. There are a number of different classes of phospholipases. Even within the same class, the enzymes can have very different sequence similarities and modes of regulation. Their products are often signaling molecules that relay instructions to the cell to initiate or terminate reactions. Their activities are tightly regulated because of this. Phospholipases are defined by the enzymatic reaction they catalyze. The classes are phospholipase A, which has members A1 and A2; phospholipase B, which can carry out the reactions of both A1 and A2; phospholipase C; and phospholipase D. Phospholipase is usually abbreviated as PL.
