Lysenin, a unique sphingomyelin-binding protein.
Sphingomyelin plays complex structural and signaling functions in the plasma membrane. Of special interest is that hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to ceramide can modulate dynamics of membrane rafts, which serve as signaling platforms for various receptors. This review is focused on a recently discovered sphingomyelin-binding protein, lysenin, which can be used as a unique probe to trace distribution and turnover of sphingomyelin in cellular membranes. We analyze the primary and secondary structures of lysenin with respect to its interaction with the plasma membrane. The specificity of lysenin binding to sphingomyelin, revealed by both biochemical and cytochemical approaches, is discussed.
Shakor
Abo-Bakr Abdel
AB
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Department of Cell Biology, 3 Pasteur St., 02-093, Warsaw, Poland.
Czurylo
Edward A
EA
Sobota
Andrzej
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000502:physiology; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014118:Toxins, Biological
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C107040:lysenin