Work

The Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Anchor: A Complex Membrane-Anchoring Structure for Proteins

Year: 2008

Type: review

Abstract: Positioned at the C-terminus of many eukaryotic proteins, the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor is a posttranslational modification that anchors the modified protein in the outer leaflet of the cell membrane. The GPI anchor is a complex structure comprising a phosphoethanolamine linker, glycan core, and phospholipid tail. GPI-anchored proteins are structurally and functionally diverse and play vital roles in numerous biological processes. While several GPI-anchored proteins have been characterized, the biological functions of the GPI anchor have yet to be elucidated at a molecular level. This review discusses the structural diversity of the GPI anchor and its putative cellular functions, including involvement in lipid raft partitioning, signal transduction, targeting to the apical membrane, and prion disease pathogenesis. We specifically highlight studies in which chemically synthesized GPI anchors and analogues have been employed to study the roles of this unique posttranslational modification.

Source: Biochemistry

DOI: 10.1021/bi8006324

Authors: Margot G. Paulick, Carolyn R. Bertozzi

Institutions: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Molecular Foundry, University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funders: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences