December 2007

• Malaria infection: Heparan sulfate says open sesame

  Proteolytic cleavage of the Plasmodium sporozoite cell surface circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is triggered by hepatocyte highly sulfated heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), initiating a signaling pathway that involves calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK)-6 and leads to the switch from sporozoite migration to invasion.

  Functional Glycomics Gateway (2007)
  doi:10.1038/fg.2007.52

• Leukocyte recruitment: Selectin the way forward

  Clathrin-coated pits and lipid raft membrane subdomains sequester E-selectin molecules and regulate the rolling of leukocytes toward sites of inflammation.

  Functional Glycomics Gateway (2007)
  doi:10.1038/fg.2007.53

• Cell proliferation: Rafting through the lattice

  Cell surface glycan-galectin lattices interact with membrane microdomains and control the presence of molecules involved in signal transduction and endocytosis.

  Functional Glycomics Gateway (2007)
  doi:10.1038/fg.2007.54