Plant Phosphoinositide Metabolism: an Overview

Little is known about how inositol lipid biosynthesis is regulated in plants and what cellular processes are intertwined with the metabolism of phosphoinositides. Research in our laboratory has the aim to elucidate the function and regulation of the phosphoinositide pathway in plants. We have developed molecular and biochemical tools to identify key regulators of phosphoinositide biosynthesis and metabolization. Our goals are to study how plasma membrane and other cellular PtdIns4P and PtdIns(4,5)P₂ pools are generated and how these pools affect plant responses to a changing environment.

Cellular functions of Phosphoinositides

The inositol headgroup

Cellular localization of phosphoinositides

Phosphoinositides as central mediators of plant growth responses

Unique properties of plant phosphoinositide metabolism

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate regulates intracellular Ca²⁺ levels



This research has been supported in part by the NSF, NASA, DOE, and the NC Agricultural Research Service.