Diacylglycerol kinase alpha (DAG kinase alpha) is a member of the eukaryotic diacylglycerol kinase family. Upon cell stimulation converts the second messenger diacylglycerol into phosphatidate, initiating the resyn-thesis of phosphatidylinositols and attenuating protein kinase C activity. Involved in hepatocellular carcinoma progression through regulation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway. The DGKα/atypical PKC/β1 integrin signaling pathway is required for matrix invasion of breast carcinoma cells.