Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol- (GPI) anchored proteins contain a large extracellular protein domain that is linked to the membrane via a glycosylated form of phosphatidylinositol. We recently reported the polarized apical distribution of all endogenous GPI-anchored proteins in the MDCK cell line (Lisanti, M. P., M. Sargiacomo, L. Graeve, A. R. Saltiel, and E. Rodriguez-Boulan. 1988. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 85:9557-9561). To study the role of this mechanism of membrane anchoring in targeting to the apical cell surface, we use here decay-accelerating factor (DAF) as a model GPI-anchored protein. Endogenous DAF was localized on the apical surface of two human intestinal cell lines (Caco-2 and SK-CO15). Recombinant DAF, expressed in MDCK cells, also assumed a polarized apical distribution. Transfer of the 37-amino acid DAF signal for GPI attachment to the ectodomain of herpes simplex glycoprotein D (a basolateral antigen) and to human growth hormone (a regulated secretory protein) by recombinant DNA methods resulted in delivery of the fusion proteins to the apical surface of transfected MDCK cells. These results are consistent with the notion that the GPI anchoring mechanism may convey apical targeting information.
Article|
November 01 1989
A glycophospholipid membrane anchor acts as an apical targeting signal in polarized epithelial cells.
In Special Collection:
JCB65: Lipid and Membrane Biology
M P Lisanti,
M P Lisanti
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York 10021.
Search for other works by this author on:
I W Caras,
I W Caras
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York 10021.
Search for other works by this author on:
M A Davitz,
M A Davitz
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York 10021.
Search for other works by this author on:
E Rodriguez-Boulan
E Rodriguez-Boulan
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York 10021.
Search for other works by this author on:
M P Lisanti
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York 10021.
I W Caras
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York 10021.
M A Davitz
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York 10021.
E Rodriguez-Boulan
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York 10021.
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
J Cell Biol (1989) 109 (5): 2145–2156.
Citation
M P Lisanti, I W Caras, M A Davitz, E Rodriguez-Boulan; A glycophospholipid membrane anchor acts as an apical targeting signal in polarized epithelial cells.. J Cell Biol 1 November 1989; 109 (5): 2145–2156. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.109.5.2145
Download citation file: