Tissue-inherent fate of GPI revealed by GPI-anchored GFP transgenesis

FEBS Lett. 1999 Sep 24;458(3):299-303. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)01172-2.

Abstract

To clarify the fate of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) in mammals, we developed GPI-anchored enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP-GPI) and transgenic mice carrying this fusion construct. When it was introduced to culture cells, the EGFP-GPI protein was correctly sorted to plasma membranes and microsomes depending on GPI biosynthesis. Transgenic mice carrying EGFP-GPI were found to show a broad transgene expression. Histologically, a prominent polarized localization of EGFP-GPI protein was observed in various epithelia, the nervous system and liver and secreted from some exocrine glands, as well as non-polarized presence in non-epithelial tissues, demonstrating a tissue-inherent manner of GPI sorting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrosin / chemistry
  • Acrosin / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Expression
  • Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / genetics*
  • Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / metabolism
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Thy-1 Antigens / chemistry
  • Thy-1 Antigens / genetics
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Glycosylphosphatidylinositols
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Thy-1 Antigens
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Acrosin