Phosphoinositide Kinases as Enzymes that Produce Versatile Signaling Lipids, Phosphoinositides

Phosphoinositide kinases comprise a unique family of enzymes that catalyze the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol and its phosphorylated metabolites to produce seven phosphoinositides. Recent advances have revealed that these phosphoinositides have specific physiological functions, such as actin cytoskeletal reorganization, membrane transport, cell proliferation and survival, in eukaryotic cells and that each phosphoinositide kinase is differently and precisely regulated. Here we describe the diverse regulation and physiological functions of phosphoinositide kinases involving their products.