Pathogenic proteins cholesterol

We will first treat the adhesion of a pathogenic protein via the long route crossing both glycosphingolipids and cholesterol. In the beginning, the protein "sees" only the glycone part of the glycolipid, which extrudes from the membrane (Fig. 13.2). 

At this stage, the pathogenic protein is attached to the glycolipid but does not "know" yet that cholesterol is just below (Fig. 13.2). The interaction of the protein with cholesterol is a two-time process. The first step is the recognition of the OH group of cholesterol by the protein. It requires that this OH group is not already engaged in an interaction with vicinal... 

FIGURE 13.6 Dual use of glycosphingolipids and cholesterol by pathogenic proteins. (A) In this model, a... 

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