Cell-surface anchoring of proteins via glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol structures.
A class of membrane molecules has been identified whose primary translation product includes a COOH-terminal protein sequence that signals attachment of a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor at a COOH-terminal residue that is newly formed by cleavage of the signaling sequence. This class includes a wide diversity of protein types from eukaryotes at many stages of evolution. The structures of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchors are being resolved, but their functions aside from membrane attachment and dynamics remain to be determined.
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000502:physiology*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols