InterPro domain: IPR033177

Phosphatidylserine decarboxylase plays a pivotal role in the synthesis of phospholipid by the mitochondria. The substrate phosphatidylserine is synthesized extramitochondrially and must be translocated to the mitochondria prior to decarboxylation [ 1 ]. Phosphatidylserine decarboxylases 4.1.1.65 is responsible for conversion of phosphatidylserine to phosphatidylethanolamine and plays a central role in the biosynthesis of aminophospholipids [ 2 ].

Phosphatidylserine decarboxylases (PSDs) have been classified in two types. Type I PSDs include enzymes of eukaryotic mitochondria and bacterial origin which contain the amino acid sequence LGST as a characteristic motif. Type II PSDs are found in the endomembrane system of eukaryotes and contain a typical GGST motif. These characteristic motifs are considered as autocatalytic cleavage sites where proenzymes are split into alpha and beta subunits [ 3 ].

1. Phosphatidylserine decarboxylase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Isolation of mutants, cloning of the gene, and creation of a null allele. J. Biol. Chem. 268, 21416-24
2. Phosphatidylserine decarboxylase 2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cloning and mapping of the gene, heterologous expression, and creation of the null allele. J. Biol. Chem. 270, 6071-80
3. Phosphatidylserine decarboxylases, key enzymes of lipid metabolism. IUBMB Life 61, 151-62