New insights in glycosphingolipid function: "glycosignaling domain," a cell surface assembly of glycosphingolipids with signal transducer molecules, involved in cell adhesion coupled with signaling

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Abstract
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are known as mediators of cell adhesion and as modulators of signal transduction (Hakomori, 1993), in addition to their classically known functions as antigens and receptors. Here, we describe an assembly of GSLs with signal transducer molecules in a microdomain. This assembly, termed “glycosignaling domain,” plays a functional role in cell interaction/ adhesion coupled with signaling. The term “glycosignaling domain” (GSD) indicates a GSL-enriched microdomain (GEM), with emphasis on the physical and functional connection of GSLs with transducer molecules. The term “GEM” simply indicates a cluster of GSLs in membrane. The term “DIM” indicates a detergent-insoluble membranous fraction which contains not only clustered GSLs but also sphingomyelin, GPI anchor, or other membrane component. Many of the transducer molecules involved are oncogene or proto-oncogene products.

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