Organization of GPI-anchored proteins at the cell surface and its physiopathological relevance

• Published in: Critical reviews in biochemistry and molecular biology Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 403 - 419
• Main Authors: Lebreton, Stéphanie, Zurzolo, Chiara, Paladino, Simona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 04.07.2018
• Subjects: actin cytoskeleton; Animals; Cell Adhesion; Cell Membrane; Cell Membrane - genetics; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell Membrane - pathology; Cellular Biology; cholesterol; clustering; epithelial cell polarity; GPI-anchored proteins; GPI-Linked Proteins; GPI-Linked Proteins - genetics; GPI-Linked Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Life Sciences; membrane domains; membrane organization; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Neoplasms; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - metabolism; Neoplasms - pathology; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases - genetics; Neurodegenerative Diseases - metabolism; Neurodegenerative Diseases - pathology; Oligosaccharides; Oligosaccharides - genetics; Oligosaccharides - metabolism; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; protein trafficking and sorting; Signal Transduction; actin cytoskeleton; protein trafficking and sorting; membrane domains; epithelial cell polarity; membrane organization; cholesterol; clustering; GPI-anchored proteins
• ISSN: 1040-9238; 1549-7798; 1549-7798
• DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2018.1485627

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) are a class of proteins attached to the extracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane via a post-translational modification, the glycolipid anchor. The presence of both glycolipid anchor and protein portion confers them unique features. GPI-APs are expressed in all eukaryotes, from fungi to plants and animals. They display very diverse functions ranging from enzymatic activity, signaling, cell adhesion, cell wall metabolism, neuritogenesis, and immune response. Likewise other plasma membrane proteins, the spatio-temporal organization of GPI-APs is critical for their biological activities in physiological conditions. In this review, we will summarize the latest findings on plasma membrane organization of GPI-APs and the mechanism of its regulation in different cell types. We will also examine the involvement of specific GPI-APs namely the prion protein PrP C , the Folate Receptor alpha and the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in human diseases focusing on neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.