GPISynthasen
GPISynthasen are a family of enzymes that catalyze the assembly of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors, the glycolipid moiety that covalently attaches certain proteins to the cell membrane. These enzymes operate within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and sequentially add sugars and phosphate groups to a phosphatidylinositol backbone, forming a complex lipid structure that serves as a universal signal for protein attachment.
The GPI anchor biosynthetic pathway includes several distinct synthases, many of which are encoded by PIG (phosphatidylinositol
Defects in GPISynthasen genes lead to inherited GPI deficient disorders (IGD). These conditions are characterized by
GPISynthasen are highly conserved across eukaryotes, reflecting the fundamental role of GPI anchors in cell adhesion,