Phospholipase D: enzymology, mechanisms of regulation, and function

Phospholipase D exists in various forms that differ in their regulation but predominantly hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine. The Ca(2+)-dependent isozymes of protein kinase C regulate phospholipase D in vitro and play a major role in its control by growth factors and G protein-linked agonists in vivo. Recent studies have demonstrated that small G proteins of the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) and Rho families activate the enzyme in vitro, and evidence is accumulating that they also are involved in its control in vivo. Both types of G protein play important roles in cellular function, and the possible mechanisms by which they are activated by agonists are discussed. There is also emerging evidence of the control of phospholipase D and Rho proteins by soluble tyrosine kinases and novel serine/threonine kinases. The possible role of these kinases in agonist regulation of phospholipase D is discussed. The function of phospholipase D in cells is still poorly defined. Postulated roles of phosphatidic acid produced by phospholipase D action include the activation of Ca(2+)-independent isoforms of protein kinase C, the regulation of growth and the cytoskeleton in fibroblasts, and control of the respiratory burst in neutrophils. Another important function of phosphatidic acid is to act as a substrate for a specific phospholipase A2 to generate lysophosphatidic acid, which is becoming increasingly recognized as a major intercellular messenger. Finally, it is possible that the phospholipid changes induced in various cellular membranes by phospholipase D may per se play an important role in vesicle trafficking and other membrane-associated events.