Cloning, tissue distribution and sub-cellular localisation of phospholipase C X-domain containing protein (PLCXD) isoforms

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) enzymes comprise a small family of receptor-regulated phosphodiesterases that control many cellular processes by the regulation of cytosolic calcium and/or the activity of several protein kinases. To date, six distinct classes of PI-PLC are known to exist in mammals. Here we characterise a seventh class of PI-PLC, which contains only the catalytic X domain in its structure, termed phospholipase C X-domain containing protein (PLCXD). At least three tissue-specific PLCXD isoforms exist in humans, comprising hPLCXD-1, hPLCXD-2 and hPLCXD-3, with hPLCXD-2 exhibiting three C-terminal spliceforms (2.1, 2.2 and 2.3). Specific amino acids known to be essential for the catalytic function of PI-PLCs were found to be conserved in all three human PLCXDs and over-expression of hPLCXD-1, 2.1 and 3 in the HeLa cell line increased endogenous PI-PLC activity. Human PLCXD isoforms exhibited tissue-specific expression profiles in mice and humans and immunocytochemistry revealed distinct sub-cellular localisations when over-expressed in human cultured cell lines. These novel proteins may therefore possess fundamental, and as yet uncharacterised roles in cell physiology.

► A phylogenetic analysis of PLC X-domain-containing proteins (PLCXDs) is presented.
► The tissue distribution of mouse and human PLCXD isoforms was determined.
► Lenti-viral expression of PLCXDs indicate isoform-specific subcellular locations.
► Over-expression of PLCXDs in HeLa cells results in enhanced PLC enzyme activity.