PtdIns-(4)-P1 (1,2-dipalmitoyl) (ammonium salt)

PtdIns-(4)-P1 (1,2-dipalmitoyl) (ammonium salt) is a synthetic version of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns-(4)-P1), a key intermediate in the phosphoinositide pathway. With 1,2-dipalmitoyl fatty acid chains for membrane anchorage, this compound structurally resembles naturally occurring phosphoinositides. PtdIns-(4)-P1 is phosphorylated exclusively at the 4-position of the inositol ring and plays a crucial role as a precursor to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns-(4,5)-P2), a key signaling lipid. In research settings, this synthetic phosphoinositide is used to explain the mechanisms of lipid signaling. It specifically interacts with proteins containing phosphoinositide-binding domains like PH, FYVE, and ENTH, which allow researchers to investigate their recruitment to membrane compartments. Through studying these interactions, researchers can explore the regulation of intracellular vesicle trafficking, signal transduction, and actin cytoskeletal reorganization. Furthermore, PtdIns-(4)-P1 is critical for examining phosphoinositide kinase activities, such as phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase, which generates PtdIns-(4,5)-P2. This synthetic version aids in understanding how spatial and temporal regulation of phosphoinositide metabolism influences the activity of downstream effectors like small GTPases, enabling researchers to dissect pathways controlling diverse cellular processes, including endocytosis, secretion, and cell polarity.