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Glycosphingolipids in microdomain formation and their spatial organization
Author(s) -
Gupta Garima,
Surolia Avadhesha
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.11.070
Subject(s) - lipid microdomain , lipid raft , sphingomyelin , glycosphingolipid , membrane , sphingolipid , raft , ceramide , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , biochemistry , biology , apoptosis , organic chemistry , copolymer , polymer
Plasma membranes regulate the influx and efflux of molecules across themselves and are also responsible for primary signal transduction between cells or within the same cell. Presence of lateral heterogeneity and the ability of reorganization are essential requirements for effective functioning of biomembranes. Lipid rafts are small, heterogeneous, dynamic domains enriched in glycosphingolipids, sphingomyelin and cholesterol, and profoundly influence membrane organization. Glycosphingolipids are inclined towards formation of liquid‐ordered phases in membranes, both with and without cholesterol; they are therefore prime players in domain formation. Here, we discuss the role of glycosphingolipids in microdomain formation and their spatial organization within these rafts.