title: Analysis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol protein anchors: the prion protein.
abstract: Membrane proteins constitute a substantial fraction of the human proteome. A small subgroup associates with membranes through the presence of a C-terminal lipid anchor that is joined to the protein via a phosphoglycan. The prion protein (PrP), an abnormally folded form that causes fatal neurodegeneration, is one example of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein. Although GPI-anchored proteins were first recognized some 20 years ago (in the mid-1980s), relatively few GPI anchors have been analyzed in detail. Therefore, a description of the analysis of the PrP-GPI anchor using a variety of mass spectrometric methods is of interest even though some of the approaches adopted could be facilitated through the use of newer, more sensitive techniques.
authors.affiliation: Mass Spectrometry Research Resource, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Baldwin
mesh_terms: D001671:Biochemistry / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005690:Galactose / Q000737:chemistry; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000737:chemistry*; D007294:Inositol / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008358:Mannose / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D008055:Lipids; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010455:Peptides; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011328:Prions; D007294:Inositol; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D008358:Mannose; D005690:Galactose