Structural and functional roles of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol in membranes.
Glycosylated forms of phosphatidylinositol, which have only recently been described in eukaryotic organisms, are now known to play important roles in biological membrane function. These molecules can serve as the sole means by which particular cell-surface proteins are anchored to the membrane. Lipids with similar structures may also be involved in signal transduction mechanisms for the hormone insulin. The utilization of this novel class of lipid molecules for these two distinct functions suggests new mechanisms for the regulation of proteins in biological membranes.
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Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
Saltiel
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D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism; D010742:Phospholipid Ethers / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000378:metabolism
D006017:Glycolipids; D007328:Insulin; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols; D010742:Phospholipid Ethers; D010740:Phospholipases