PLC - IP3/DAG pathway
The phospholipase C (PLC) can be activated by GPCRs-Gαqprotein pairs. PLC catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol
4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) into inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and
diacylglycerol (DAG) (Rebecchi & Pentyala, 2000). IP3 diffuses to the
endoplasmic reticulum, binds to its receptor and triggers the release of
calcium ions (Ca2+), which along with DAG act as a
secondary messenger to modulate downstream effectors like protein
kinases and phosphatases. Thereby, this pathway influences cell growth,
apoptosis, and cell migration, and thus plays an important role in the
development of cancer (Tyutyunnykova, Telegeev, & Dubrovska, 2017).