Biosynthesis rafts

So far GPI biosynthesis raises many questions as its correct regulation is crucial for viability in yeast and for embryonic development in mammals. Many steps remain unclear, also due to the fact that most of the proteins involved still have to be characterized. The same is true for the biological function of the GPI anchor apart from membrane insertion. Several suggestions have been made according to which GPI anchors are targeting lipid rafts, specific intracellular compartments, or the apical membrane of polarized epithelial cells. 

Fumonisin inhibition of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis (Merrill et ah, 2001 Riley et ah, 1996), resulting in depletion of complex glyco-sphingolipids, disruption of lipid rafts, and compromised folate transport via Folrl, which may have significant implications with respect to developmental anomalies such as NTDs (Hansen et ah, 2003 Piedrahita... 

London, M., Bakht, O. London, E. Cholesterol precursors stabihze ordinary and ceramide-rich ordered hpid domains (hpid rafts) to different degrees. Imphcations for the Bloch hypothesis and sterol biosynthesis disorders. J Biol Chem 281 (2006) 21903-13. 

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