There are four kinds of phospholipase:

1. Phospholipase A₁
2. Phospholipase A₂
3. Phospholipase C
4. Phospholipase D

1. Phospholipase A₁It cleaves the fatty acid at C₁ position of phospholipids, resulting in lysophospholipids.Lysophospholipid can be further acted by lysophopholipase to remove second acyl group at C₂ position.
2. Phospholipase A₂It hydrolyses the fatty acid at C₂ position of phospholipid. This enzyme is found in snake venom and in many tissues and pancreatic juice. Phospholipase A₂ acts on phosphptidyl inositol; it liberates arachidonic acid, the substrate for the synthesis of prostaglandins.
3. Phospholipase CIt cleaves the bond between phosphate and glycerol of phospholipids. This enzyme is present in lysosomes of hepatocytes. The toxin is isolated from clostridia, and other bacillus contains phospholipase C.Figure 10.5 Biosynthesis of Triacylglycerol and Phospholipids
4. Phospholipase DIt hydrolyses and removes nitrogenous bases from phospholipids. It is present in plant sources (cabbage, cotton seed, and so on).