NEUROPROTECTION BY INHIBITION OF DIACYGLYCEROL KINASE EPSILON ACTIVITY

摘要

The present invention includes the characterization of the DGKe gene and the generation of screening methods for compounds that inhibit the function of DGKe. The DGK family of enzymes occupies a signaling crossroads since they catalyze the phosphorylation of DAG to produce PA. Both the substrate (DAG) and the product (PA) of this reaction are key factors in intracellular signaling, making the regulation of DGKe activity important to understand and control. DGKe -/- mice were also generated and studied to assist in understanding the function of DGKs in regulating cellular signaling. DGKe displays selectively for 20:4-DAG and is highly expressed in different areas of the brain, including Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, hippocampal interneurons, and the Pyramidal neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus.