DGKB
Description
The DGKB (diacylglycerol kinase beta) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 7.
The DGKB gene encodes diacylglycerol kinase beta, an enzyme that regulates the intracellular concentration of the second messenger diacylglycerol (DAG). It plays a crucial role in cellular processes as a member of the diacylglycerol kinase family (DGKs). There are nine mammalian isotypes of DGKs, each encoded by a separate gene. Mammalian DGK isozymes share a conserved catalytic (kinase) domain and a cysteine-rich domain (CRD). This gene encodes the beta isotype of diacylglycerol kinase. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene.
DGKB acts as a central switch between signaling pathways activated by diacylglycerol (DAG) and phosphatidic acid (PA), two bioactive lipids with different cellular targets and opposing effects in numerous biological processes. It exhibits higher activity with long-chain diacylglycerols, such as 1,2-di-(9Z-octadecenoyl)-sn-glycerol, compared to 1,2-didecanoyl-sn-glycerol. Specifically expressed in the brain, DGKB regulates neuron-specific morphological changes, including neurite branching and neurite spine formation.
DGKB is also known as DAGK2, DGK, DGK-BETA.
