Mammalian Cellular Phospholipases A₂ and Their Physiological Roles

Abstract

Phospholipase A₂ hydrolyzes the ester linkage at sn-2 of glycerophospholipids and is thought to function as a key enzyme in generation of variety of bioactive mediators, such as prostaglandins and platelet-activating factor. In the present review, recent studies on two kinds of cellular phospholipases A₂, 14kDa group II phospholipase A₂ and arachidonate-preferentially hydrolyzing phospholipase A₂, will be summarized.