EMBO Workshop — Inositol lipids: Signaling platforms for organizing cellular architecture and physiology

Phosphoinosites are now well recognised as signaling intermediates and their role in cell surface signal transduction and sub-cellular processes such as membrane trafficking have been described. However, in recent years, the availability of high-resolution imaging tools and novel technologies have resulted in new models on the dynamics of PIs in living cellular organelles and the mechanisms by which their levels and distribution are controlled. This in turn has led to emerging ideas on novel modes by which PIs regulate cell architecture and physiology. In parallel, high-throughput genomics technologies have led to the description of genetic changes in protein components of the PI signaling system linked to human disease. Finally, lipidomics technologies are beginning to provide new insights into the acyl chain diversity of PIs that is likely to inform on their function as specific sub-cellular processes. This workshop offers an exciting and opportune moment to discuss the manner in which PIs act as master regulators of cellular architecture and physiology in health and disease.