Diacylglycerols, multivalent membrane modulators

Diacylglycerols are second messengers confined to biomembranes and, although relatively simple molecules from the structural point of view, they are able of triggering a surprisingly wide range of biological responses. Diacylglycerols are recognized by a well conserved protein motif, such as the CI domain. This domain was observed for the first time in protein kinases C1 but is now known to be present in many other proteins. The effect of diacylglycerols is not limited to binding to C1 domains and they are able to alter the biophysical properties of biomembranes and hence modulate the activity of membrane associated proteins and also facilitate some processes like membrane fusion. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.