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Updated: May 25, 2026

Single-molecule Super-resolution Imaging of Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in the Plasma Membrane with Novel Fluorescent Probes
Published on: October 15, 2016
GPI-anchor remodeling: potential functions of GPI-anchors in intracellular trafficking and membrane dynamics
Morihisa Fujita1, Taroh Kinoshita
1Research Institute for Microbial Diseases and WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. morihisa@biken.osaka-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring of proteins is a conserved post-translational modification in eukaryotes. GPI is synthesized and transferred to proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. GPI-anchored proteins are then transported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane through the Golgi apparatus. GPI-anchor functions as a sorting signal for transport of GPI-anchored proteins in the secretory and endocytic pathways. After GPI attachment to proteins, the structure of the GPI-anchor is remodeled, which regulates the trafficking and localization of GPI-anchored proteins. Recently, genes required for GPI remodeling were identified in yeast and mammalian cells. Here, we describe the structural remodeling and function of GPI-anchors, and discuss how GPI-anchors regulate protein sorting, trafficking, and dynamics. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Lipids and Vesicular Transport.
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