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Publication details for Dr Paul Denny

Denny, PW, Field, MC & Smith, DF (2001). GPI-anchored proteins and glycoconjugates segregate into lipid rafts in Kinetoplastida. Febs Letters 491(1-2): 148-153.

• Publication type: Journal papers: academic
• ISSN/ISBN: 0014-5793
• DOI: 10.1016/S0014-5793(01)02172-X
• Keywords: Lipid raft; Kinetoplastida; Glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor; Sphingolipid; Sterol
• View online: Online version
• Durham research online: DRO record

Author(s) from Durham

• Dr Paul Denny

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.