Lazarillo, a neuronal lipocalin in grasshoppers with a role in axon guidance.
In this report we present a review on the grasshopper lipocalin Lazarillo with special emphasis on how its molecular properties could account for its known function: the guidance of pioneer neurons during nervous system development. The expression and function of Lazarillo in a subset of developing neurons, its heavy glycosylation and its glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage to the plasma membrane, make Lazarillo a unique member of the lipocalin family. We have built a model of the tertiary structure of Lazarillo in which we have studied the exposed surfaces in search for clues about ligand and protein interactions with Lazarillo. Our hypotheses about how this lipocalin can exert its function are discussed.
Sánchez
D
D
Biology Department, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA. lazarill@ibgm.uva.es
Ganfornina
M D
MD
Bastiani
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism; D006110:Grasshoppers; D019476:Insect Proteins; D054834:Lipocalins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D019476:Insect Proteins; C092150:Lazarillo protein, Schistocerca; D054834:Lipocalins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins