Anchored proteins. Meeting of basic and clinical research

A novel modification of proteins that make them lipophilic and capable of being tightly associated with membrane has been discovered in a variety of eukaryotic organisms, including man. Known as glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, it is profoundly deficient in the hemolytic disease, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). The molecular basis for this deficiency is due to the absence of the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway for the GPI anchor. Basic research on lower eukaryotes such as trypanosomes and yeasts formed the basis for the clinical discovery.