Cell adhesion/recognition and signal transduction through glycosphingolipid microdomain

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and sphingomyelin in animal cells are clustered a nd organized as membrane microdomains closely associated with various signa l transducer molecules such as cSrc, Src family kinases, small G-proteins ( e.g., RhoA, Ras), and focal adhesion kinase. GSL clustering in such microdo mains causes adhesion to complementary GSLs on the surface of counterpart c ells or presented on plastic surfaces, through carbohydrate-to-carbohydrate interaction. GEL-dependent cell adhesion In microdomain causes activation of the signal transducers, leading to cell phenotypic changes. A retrospect ive of the development of this concept, and current status of our studies, are presented.