Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Proteins and Their Release from Cells

Anchorage of a subset of cell surface proteins in eukaryotic cells from yeast to mammals is mediated by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol moiety covalently attached to the carboxy-terminus of the protein moiety. Experimental evidence for the potential of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-AP) of being released from cells into the extracellular environment has been accumulating, which...