Phospholipase

A phospholipase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes phospholipids[1] into fatty acids and other lipophilic substances.

There are four major classes, termed A, B, C, and D, which are distinguished by the type of reaction which they catalyze: Types C and D are considered phosphodiesterases.

[2] Phospholipase A2 acts on the intact lecithin molecule and hydrolyzes the fatty acid esterified to the second carbon atom.

The resulting products are lysolecithin and a fatty acid.

Phospholipase A2 is an enzyme present in the venom of bees, blennies and viper snakes.

Phospholipase cleavage sites. An enzyme that displays both PLA 1 and PLA 2 activities is called a phospholipase B .