title: Glycosphingolipids in microdomain formation and their spatial organization.
abstract: Plasma membranes regulate the influx and efflux of molecules across themselves and are also responsible for primary signal transduction between cells or within the same cell. Presence of lateral heterogeneity and the ability of reorganization are essential requirements for effective functioning of biomembranes. Lipid rafts are small, heterogeneous, dynamic domains enriched in glycosphingolipids, sphingomyelin and cholesterol, and profoundly influence membrane organization. Glycosphingolipids are inclined towards formation of liquid-ordered phases in membranes, both with and without cholesterol; they are therefore prime players in domain formation. Here, we discuss the role of glycosphingolipids in microdomain formation and their spatial organization within these rafts.
authors: Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
authors: Garima
authors: G
authors: Gupta
authors: Avadhesha
authors: A
authors: Surolia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008968:Molecular Conformation
chemical_list: D006028:Glycosphingolipids