Abstract
The wide biochemical diversity of glycolipids in membranes explains why these molecules are often selected by pathogens (viruses, bacteria, prions) as primary sites of interactions with the cell surface. Moreover, glycolipids concentrate into cholesterol/ glycolipid-rich microdomains where they can reach high local concentrations consistent with the multivalent attachment of pathogens on the cell surface. Finally, recent studies have shown that glycolipids could also modulate protein conformation. This chaperone activity of glycolipids has been associated with various pathogenic processes including HIV infection, prion propagation, and amyloid aggregation in Alzheimers and Creutzfeldt-Jakobs diseases. Despite the potential interest for drugs mimicking glycolipid structure and function, the physicochemical properties of authentic glycolipids suggested that it might be difficult to obtain synthetic glycolipid analogues able to neutralise those pathogens before they could reach the cell surface. Recent data obtained with mono-, di-, and trihexosylceramide (GalCer, LacCer and Gb3) have proven that this was absolutely not the case and that highly active inhibitors could be designed through slight modifications of glycolipid structure. Biochemical studies of glycolipid-protein interactions have highlighted the importance of CH- π stacking interactions between galactosyl head groups of the glycolipid and aromatic amino acids of the protein. The discovery of this unique mechanism of interaction may allow a rational strategy for the design and synthesis of glycolipid-based molecules as new anti-infectious and/or anti-amyloidogenesis compounds. This strategy, which takes into account the hierarchical organisation of glycolipids into discrete membrane microdomains as well as their association with cholesterol, is discussed in the present review.
Keywords: sphingolipids, GalCer, conformation, Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases, glycolipid-binding domain
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Interaction of Proteins with Lipid Rafts Through Glycolipid-Binding Domains:Biochemical Background and Potential Therapeutic Applications
Volume: 14 Issue: 27
Author(s): Jacques Fantini
Affiliation:
Keywords: sphingolipids, GalCer, conformation, Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases, glycolipid-binding domain
Abstract: The wide biochemical diversity of glycolipids in membranes explains why these molecules are often selected by pathogens (viruses, bacteria, prions) as primary sites of interactions with the cell surface. Moreover, glycolipids concentrate into cholesterol/ glycolipid-rich microdomains where they can reach high local concentrations consistent with the multivalent attachment of pathogens on the cell surface. Finally, recent studies have shown that glycolipids could also modulate protein conformation. This chaperone activity of glycolipids has been associated with various pathogenic processes including HIV infection, prion propagation, and amyloid aggregation in Alzheimers and Creutzfeldt-Jakobs diseases. Despite the potential interest for drugs mimicking glycolipid structure and function, the physicochemical properties of authentic glycolipids suggested that it might be difficult to obtain synthetic glycolipid analogues able to neutralise those pathogens before they could reach the cell surface. Recent data obtained with mono-, di-, and trihexosylceramide (GalCer, LacCer and Gb3) have proven that this was absolutely not the case and that highly active inhibitors could be designed through slight modifications of glycolipid structure. Biochemical studies of glycolipid-protein interactions have highlighted the importance of CH- π stacking interactions between galactosyl head groups of the glycolipid and aromatic amino acids of the protein. The discovery of this unique mechanism of interaction may allow a rational strategy for the design and synthesis of glycolipid-based molecules as new anti-infectious and/or anti-amyloidogenesis compounds. This strategy, which takes into account the hierarchical organisation of glycolipids into discrete membrane microdomains as well as their association with cholesterol, is discussed in the present review.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Fantini Jacques, Interaction of Proteins with Lipid Rafts Through Glycolipid-Binding Domains:Biochemical Background and Potential Therapeutic Applications, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2007; 14 (27) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707782360033
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707782360033 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Serum Biochemical Markers of Brain Injury
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Preventing Prion Pathogenicity by Targeting the Cellular Prion Protein
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Interleukin-18: Biology and Role in the Immunotherapy of Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Quality, not Quantity: The Role of Natural Products and Chemical Proteomics in Modern Drug Discovery
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening HIV-1 Subtypes B and C Tat Differentially Impact Synaptic Plasticity Expression and Implicates HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders§
Current HIV Research Novel Therapeutic Approaches Based on the Targeting of Microenvironment-Derived Survival Pathways in Human Cancer: Experimental Models and Translational Issues
Current Pharmaceutical Design 2 Receptor Specific Ligand Conjugated Nanocarriers: An Effective Strategy for Targeted Therapy of Tuberculosis
Current Drug Delivery Kinetic Study on the Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on Catalase, Cytochrome P450 and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Human HaCaT and THP-1 Cell Lines
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Phytochemicals in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review
Current Drug Targets Characterization of a Lectin from Gonatanthus pumilus D. Don Having Anti-Proliferative Effect Against Human Cancer Cell Lines
Protein & Peptide Letters Anti-Cancer Cytotoxic Effects of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes
Current Pharmaceutical Design ras Genes and Human Cancer: Different Implications and Different Roles
Current Genomics C-Myc Signaling Pathway in Treatment and Prevention of Brain Tumors
Current Cancer Drug Targets Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels: Mutations, Channelopathies and Targets
Current Medicinal Chemistry Bone Metastases Radiopharmaceuticals: An Overview
Current Radiopharmaceuticals In Vivo Optical Imaging in Gene & Cell Therapy
Current Gene Therapy Catalytic Activity of Certain Antibodies as a Potential Tool for Drug Synthesis and for Directed Prodrug Therapies
Current Medicinal Chemistry An Orally Bioavailable c-Met Kinase Inhibitor Potently Inhibits Brain Tumor Malignancy and Growth
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Nanostructures for Bypassing Blood Brain Barrier
Current Bioactive Compounds Dendrimers As Vectors for Genetic Material Delivery to the Nervous System
Current Medicinal Chemistry