Biosynthesis of Glycosylphosphatidylinositols in Mammals and Unicellular Microbes
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A. Tiede
Abstract
Membrane anchoring of cell surface proteins via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) occurs in all eukaryotic organisms. In addition, GPI-related glycophospholipids are important constituents of the glycan coat of certain protozoa. Defects in GPI biosynthesis can retard, if not abolish growth of these organisms. In humans, a defect in GPI biosynthesis can cause paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a severe acquired bone marrow disorder. Here, we review advances in the characterization of GPI biosynthesis in parasitic protozoa, yeast and mammalian cells. The GPI core structure as well as the major steps in its biosynthesis are conserved throughout evolution. However, there are significant biosynthetic differences between mammals and microbes. First indications are that these differences could be exploited as targets in the design of novel pharmacotherapeuticsthat selectively inhibit GPI biosynthesis in unicellular microbes.
Copyright ©1999 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- Biosynthesis of Glycosylphosphatidylinositols in Mammals and Unicellular Microbes
- Activation of DNA Replication in Yeast by Recruitment of the RNA Polymerase II Transcription Complex
- On the Role of Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Chaperonin Complexes in Assisted Protein Folding
- Regulation of Cathepsin B Activity by Cysteine and Related Thiols
- Epitope Mapping of the Monoclonal Antibody MM12.10 to External MDR1 P-Glycoprotein Domain by Synthetic Peptide Scanning and Phage Display Technologies
- Molecular Mimicry between a Monoclonal Antibody and One Subunit of Crotoxin, a Heterodimeric Phospholipase A2 Neurotoxin
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Measurement of JNK Activity in Cell Extracts
- Mitochondrial DNA Acts as Potential Promoter of the Baculovirus RNA Polymerase
- In Vitro Phosphorylation of Purified Glycosylphos-phatidylinositol-Specific Phospholipase D
- Cathepsin S and Cruzipain Are Inhibited by Equistatin from Actinia equina
- Lipopeptides as Dimerization Inhibitors of HIV-1 Protease
Articles in the same Issue
- Biosynthesis of Glycosylphosphatidylinositols in Mammals and Unicellular Microbes
- Activation of DNA Replication in Yeast by Recruitment of the RNA Polymerase II Transcription Complex
- On the Role of Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Chaperonin Complexes in Assisted Protein Folding
- Regulation of Cathepsin B Activity by Cysteine and Related Thiols
- Epitope Mapping of the Monoclonal Antibody MM12.10 to External MDR1 P-Glycoprotein Domain by Synthetic Peptide Scanning and Phage Display Technologies
- Molecular Mimicry between a Monoclonal Antibody and One Subunit of Crotoxin, a Heterodimeric Phospholipase A2 Neurotoxin
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Measurement of JNK Activity in Cell Extracts
- Mitochondrial DNA Acts as Potential Promoter of the Baculovirus RNA Polymerase
- In Vitro Phosphorylation of Purified Glycosylphos-phatidylinositol-Specific Phospholipase D
- Cathepsin S and Cruzipain Are Inhibited by Equistatin from Actinia equina
- Lipopeptides as Dimerization Inhibitors of HIV-1 Protease
