Phospholipase

Overview
A phospholipase is an enzyme that converts phospholipids into fatty acids and other lipophilic substances. There are four major classes, termed A, B, C and D distinguished by what type of reaction they catalyze:


 * Phospholipase A
 * Phospholipase A1 - cleaves the SN-1 acyl chain
 * Phospholipase A2 - cleaves the SN-2 acyl chain
 * Phospholipase B - cleaves both SN-1 and SN-2 acyl chains, also known as a lysophospholipase.
 * Phospholipase C - cleaves before the phosphate, releasing diacylglycerol and a phosphate-containing head group. Phospholipase Cs play a central role in signal transduction, releasing the second messenger Inositol triphosphate.
 * Phospholipase D - cleaves after the phosphate, releasing phosphatidic acid and an alcohol.

Types C and D are considered phosphodiesterases.