title: Glycosphingolipid functions.
abstract: The combination of carbohydrate and lipid generates unusual molecules in which the two distinctive halves of the glycoconjugate influence the function of each other. Membrane glycolipids can act as primary receptors for carbohydrate binding proteins to mediate transmembrane signaling despite restriction to the outer bilayer leaflet. The extensive heterogeneity of the lipid moiety plays a significant, but still largely unknown, role in glycosphingolipid function. Potential interplay between glycolipids and their fatty acid isoforms, together with their preferential interaction with cholesterol, generates a complex mechanism for the regulation of their function in cellular physiology.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Molecular Structure and Function, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada. cling@sickkids.ca
authors.forename: Clifford A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lingwood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D047108:Embryonic Development; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000472:pathogenicity; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D021381:Protein Transport; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C514793:gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1