title: Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol moiety that anchors Trypanosoma brucei variant surface glycoprotein to the membrane.
abstract: Two forms of protein-membrane anchor have been described for the externally disposed glycoproteins of eukaryotic plasma membranes; namely, the hydrophobic transmembrane polypeptide and the complex glycosylphosphatidylinositol (G-PI) moiety. The chemical structures of the major species of G-PI anchors found on a single variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei were determined by a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, chemical modification, and exoglycosidase digestions. The G-PI anchor was found to be heterogeneous with respect to monosaccharide sequence, and several novel glycosidic linkages were present. The results are pertinent to the mechanism of the biosynthesis of G-PI anchors.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Oligosaccharide Group, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, England.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Homans
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dwek
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Rademacher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000032:analysis*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000378:metabolism*; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma