THE ROLE OF THE LIPID MATRIX IN THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF DOLICHYL-LINKED OLIGOSACCHARIDES

The enzymes in the dolichol pathway are membrane-proteins that utilize a combination of hydrophilic and extremely hydrophobic substrates. Th e enzymes in this pathway that have been purified and characterized to any extent have either been shown to be stabilized by mixed phospholi pid/detergent micelles, or else require a lipid matrix for catalytic a ctivity. Further understanding of the mechanisms of these essential en zymes may require developing methods for the reconstitution of the gly cosyltransferases and their hydrophobic substrates in appropriate lipi d matrices.