Abstract
Activated platelets and mast cells expose the inorganic polymer, polyphosphate (polyP) on their surfaces. PolyP initiates procoagulant and proinflammatory reactions and the polymer has been recognized as a therapeutic target for interference with blood coagulation and vascular hyperpermeability. PolyP content and chain length depend on the specific cell type and energy status, which may affect cellular functions. PolyP metabolism has mainly been studied in bacteria and yeast, but its roles in eukaryotic cells and mammalian systems have remained enigmatic. In this review, we will present an overview of polyP functions, focusing on intra- and extracellular roles of the polymer and discuss open questions that emerge from the current knowledge on polyP regulation.
Highlights
Reviewed by: Wei Li, Marshall University, United States Brian R
Inorganic polyphosphate is abundantly found in every cell in nature, previous studies had mainly focused on prokaryotes to investigate polyP metabolism
Eukaryotic polyP metabolism is poorly understood with exception for S. cerevisiae cells
Summary
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany Reviewed by: Wei Li, Marshall University, United States Brian R. Branchford, University of Colorado Denver, United States Specialty section: This article was submitted to Hematology, a section of the journal
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