Lipid-anchored protein

Lipid membrane with various proteins

Lipid-anchored proteins (also known as lipid-linked proteins) are proteins located on the surface of the cell membrane [of what?] that are covalently attached to lipids embedded within the cell membrane. These proteins insert and assume a place in the bilayer structure of the membrane alongside the similar fatty acid tails. The lipid-anchored protein can be located on either side of the cell membrane. Thus, the lipid serves to anchor the protein to the cell membrane.[1][2] They are a type of proteolipids.

The lipid groups play a role in protein interaction and can contribute to the function of the protein to which it is attached.[2] Furthermore, the lipid serves as a mediator of membrane associations or as a determinant for specific protein-protein interactions.[3] For example, lipid groups can play an important role in increasing molecular hydrophobicity. This allows for the interaction of proteins with cellular membranes and protein domains.[4] In a dynamic role[clarification needed], lipidation can sequester a protein away from its substrate to inactivate the protein and then activate it by substrate presentation.

Overall, there are three main types of lipid-anchored proteins which include prenylated proteins, fatty acylated proteins and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked proteins (GPI).[2][5] A protein can have multiple lipid groups covalently attached to it, but[clarification needed] the site where the lipids bind to the protein depends both on the lipid group and protein.[2]

  1. ^ Gerald Karp (2009). Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 128–. ISBN 978-0-470-48337-4. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d Voet D, Voet JG, Pratt CW (2013). Fundamentals of Biochemistry: Life at the Molecular Level (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 263. ISBN 978-0470-54784-7.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Ferguson MA (August 1991). "Lipid anchors on membrane proteins". Current Opinion in Structural Biology. 1 (4): 522–9. doi:10.1016/s0959-440x(05)80072-7.