Glycosylation of glycolipids in the Golgi complex

• Published in: Journal of neurochemistry Vol. 103; no. s1; pp. 81 - 90
• Main Author: Maccioni, Hugo J.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-11-2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Acids; Animals; Biochemistry; Biosynthetic Pathways; Cellular biology; endoplasmic reticulum exiting; ganglioside glycosylation; glycolipid synthesis; Glycolipids - metabolism; Glycosylation; glycosyltransferase trafficking; Glycosyltransferases - physiology; Golgi Apparatus - metabolism; golgi complex glycosylation; Molecular biology; Neurology; Sar1
• ISSN: 0022-3042; 1471-4159
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04717.x

Gangliosides are a family of glycolipids characterized by containing a variable number of sialic acid residues. Nearly, all animal cells contain at least some class of ganglioside in their membranes, but membranes from the CNS are characterized by their high content of these lipids. The synthesis of the oligosaccharide moiety of glycolipids is carried out in the Golgi complex. In this study, I will discuss the cellular and molecular basis of the organization of the glycosylating machinery in the Golgi complex, with particular attention to the mutual relationships, sub-Golgi localization, and intracellular trafficking of glycolipid glycosyltransferases, and to their relationships with the corresponding glycolipid acceptors and sugar nucleotide donors. I will also discuss how the organization of the glycosylating machinery in the Golgi may adapt to events controlling glycolipid expression.