Regulation of the actin cytoskeleton by phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5 kinases

Phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2) is an important lipid mediator that has multiple regulatory functions. There is now increasing evidence that the phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5 kinases (PIP5Ks), which synthesize PIP2, are regulated spatially and temporally and that they have isoform-specific functions and regulations. This review will summarize the highlights of recent developments in understanding how the three major PIP5K isoforms regulate the actin cytoskeleton and other important cellular processes.