[7] The possibility of PLD1 was first mentioned in 1947 by authors Hanahan and Chaikoff at Berkeley when describing a carrot enzyme that could "[split] choline from phospholipids.

PC-specific PLD activity has been implicated in numerous cellular pathways, including membrane trafficking, signal transduction, platelet coagulation, mitosis, apoptosis, and the creation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets.

[7][9] There is evidence that PA is able to assist in negative membrane curvature due to its head group being smaller than in many other lipids.

[7] One experiment with PLD1 knockout showed a significant reduction in the number of exocytotic fusion events, implying a strong role in exocytosis.

[12] Another experiment showed that knocking out PLD1 may hinder the ability of mice to secrete catecholamines, molecules that are essential for vesicular communication across the body.