Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1H 8M5, Canada.
Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, K1H 8M5, Canada.
Curr Genet. 2021 Jun;67(3):331-346. doi: 10.1007/s00294-020-01148-x. Epub 2021 Jan 9.
Polyphosphates (polyP) are polymers of inorganic phosphates joined by high-energy bonds to form long chains. These chains are present in all forms of life but were once disregarded as 'molecular fossils'. PolyP has gained attention in recent years following new links to diverse biological roles ranging from energy storage to cell signaling. PolyP research in humans and other higher eukaryotes is limited by a lack of suitable tools and awaits the identification of enzymatic players that would enable more comprehensive studies. Therefore, many of the most important insights have come from single-cell model systems. Here, we review determinants of polyP metabolism, regulation, and function in major microbial systems, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and algae. We highlight key similarities and differences that may aid in our understanding of how polyP impacts cell physiology at a molecular level.
多聚磷酸盐（polyP）是由高能键连接的无机磷酸盐聚合物，形成长链。这些链存在于所有形式的生命中，但曾经被忽视为“分子化石”。近年来，随着多聚磷酸盐与从能量存储到细胞信号传递等多种生物作用的新联系，其受到了关注。由于缺乏合适的工具，人类和其他高等真核生物的多聚磷酸盐研究受到限制，需要鉴定能够进行更全面研究的酶类参与者。因此，许多最重要的见解来自单细胞模型系统。在这里，我们回顾了主要微生物系统（包括细菌、真菌、原生动物和藻类）中多聚磷酸盐代谢、调节和功能的决定因素。我们强调了可能有助于我们理解多聚磷酸盐如何在分子水平上影响细胞生理学的关键相似性和差异。
