Over the past years, several classes of molecules have been shown to act as signaling molecules. Examples of such molecules acting on receptors or enzymes have now been documented: the prostaglandins, platelet-activating factor (PAF), the cannabinoids and diacylglycerol. Lysophosphatidate (LPA) is a phospholipid with a range of cellular actions, including Ca2+ accumulation, platelet aggregation and cytoskeletal effects. There is now biochemical evidence that LPA acts through a specific membrane receptor coupled to several G proteins. The varied cellular effects of LPA and the molecular biology of its signaling pathway as far as it has been dissected thus far are the subject of this text. There are still many questions left regarding the functions of LPA and the details of its intracellular signaling pathway.
Marcel E. Durieux
G protein LPA Signal Transduction