In addition to serving as a primary component of cellular membranes and binding sites for intra- and intercellular proteins, some glycerophospholipids in eukaryotic cells, such as phosphatidylinositols and phosphatidic acids are either precursors of or, themselves, membrane-derived second messengers.
Udover at tjene som en primær komponent i cellemembran og bindingssteder for intra- og intercellulære proteiner, er nogle glycerofosfolipider i eukaryotiske celle, såsom fosfatidylinositoler og fosfatidinsyrer, enten forløbere for, eller selv, membran-deriverede second messengers.