Glycosphingolipid behaviour in complex membranes.
Glycosphingolipids, due to their tendency to form laterally separated liquid-ordered phases, possess a high potential for the creation of order in biological membranes. The formation of glycosphingolipid-rich domains within the membrane has profound consequences on the membrane organization at different levels, and on the conformational and biological properties of membrane-associated proteins and multimolecular protein complexes. In this review, we will discuss 1) how glycosphingolipids influence the lateral organization of biological membranes; 2) how glycosphingolipids influence the function of membrane-associated proteins.
Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Milan, Segrate, Italy. alessandro.prinetti@unimi.it
Alessandro
A
Prinetti
Nicoletta
N
Loberto
Vanna
V
Chigorno
Sandro
S
Sonnino
D000818:Animals; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside / Q000378:metabolism; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008566:Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; C060902:lyn protein-tyrosine kinase; D019061:src-Family Kinases