GPI-anchored proteins and glycoconjugates segregate into lipid rafts in Kinetoplastida

Denny, PW; Field, MC; Smith, DF

doi:10.1016/s0014-5793(01)02172-x

GPI-anchored proteins and glycoconjugates segregate into lipid rafts in Kinetoplastida

Denny, PW; Field, MC; Smith, DF

Authors

Professor Paul Denny p.w.denny@durham.ac.uk
Professor

MC Field

DF Smith

Abstract

The plasma membranes of the divergent eukaryotic parasites, Leishmania and Trypanosoma, are highly specialised, with a thick coat of glycoconjugates and glycoproteins playing a central role in virulence. Unusually, the majority of these surface macro-molecules are attached to the plasma membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. In mammalian cells and yeast, many GPI-anchored molecules associate with sphingolipid and cholesterol-rich detergent-resistant membranes, known as lipid rafts. Here we show that GPI-anchored parasite macro-molecules (but not the dual acylated Leishmania surface protein (hydrophilic acylated surface protein) or a subset of the GPI-anchored glycoinositol phospholipid glycolipids) are enriched in a sphingolipid/sterol-rich fraction resistant to cold detergent extraction. This observation is consistent with the presence of functional lipid rafts in these ancient, highly polarised organisms.

Citation

Denny, P., Field, M., & Smith, D. (2001). GPI-anchored proteins and glycoconjugates segregate into lipid rafts in Kinetoplastida. FEBS Letters, 491(1-2), 148-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0014-5793%2801%2902172-x

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Feb 1, 2001
Deposit Date	Feb 18, 2009
Publicly Available Date	Feb 18, 2009
Journal	FEBS Letters
Print ISSN	0014-5793
Publisher	Federation of European Biochemical Societies
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	491
Issue	1-2
Pages	148-153
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/s0014-5793%2801%2902172-x
Keywords	Lipid raft, Kinetoplastida, Glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor, Sphingolipid, Sterol.