Deciphering the Importance of Glycosphingolipids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer
Every living cell is covered with a dense and complex layer of glycans on the cell surface, which have important functions in the interaction between cells and their environment. Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are glycans linked to lipid molecules that together with sphingolipids, sterols, and proteins f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/1/62 |
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| author | Cécile Cumin Yen-Lin Huang Arun Everest-Dass Francis Jacob |
| author_facet | Cécile Cumin Yen-Lin Huang Arun Everest-Dass Francis Jacob |
| author_sort | Cécile Cumin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Every living cell is covered with a dense and complex layer of glycans on the cell surface, which have important functions in the interaction between cells and their environment. Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are glycans linked to lipid molecules that together with sphingolipids, sterols, and proteins form plasma membrane lipid rafts that contribute to membrane integrity and provide specific recognition sites. GSLs are subdivided into three major series (globo-, ganglio-, and neolacto-series) and are synthesized in a non-template driven process by enzymes localized in the ER and Golgi apparatus. Altered glycosylation of lipids are known to be involved in tumor development and metastasis. Metastasis is frequently linked with reversible epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process involved in tumor progression, and the formation of new distant metastatic sites (mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition or MET). On a single cell basis, cancer cells lose their epithelial features to gain mesenchymal characteristics via mechanisms influenced by the composition of the GSLs on the cell surface. Here, we summarize the literature on GSLs in the context of reversible and cancer-associated EMT and discuss how the modification of GSLs at the cell surface may promote this process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:28:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb03f182c67b4ce9a6e395fddbb6ac84 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:28:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb03f182c67b4ce9a6e395fddbb6ac842023-11-21T08:42:01ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2021-01-011116210.3390/biom11010062Deciphering the Importance of Glycosphingolipids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in CancerCécile Cumin0Yen-Lin Huang1Arun Everest-Dass2Francis Jacob3Ovarian Cancer Research, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandOvarian Cancer Research, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandInstitute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold-Coast, QLD 4215, AustraliaOvarian Cancer Research, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandEvery living cell is covered with a dense and complex layer of glycans on the cell surface, which have important functions in the interaction between cells and their environment. Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are glycans linked to lipid molecules that together with sphingolipids, sterols, and proteins form plasma membrane lipid rafts that contribute to membrane integrity and provide specific recognition sites. GSLs are subdivided into three major series (globo-, ganglio-, and neolacto-series) and are synthesized in a non-template driven process by enzymes localized in the ER and Golgi apparatus. Altered glycosylation of lipids are known to be involved in tumor development and metastasis. Metastasis is frequently linked with reversible epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process involved in tumor progression, and the formation of new distant metastatic sites (mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition or MET). On a single cell basis, cancer cells lose their epithelial features to gain mesenchymal characteristics via mechanisms influenced by the composition of the GSLs on the cell surface. Here, we summarize the literature on GSLs in the context of reversible and cancer-associated EMT and discuss how the modification of GSLs at the cell surface may promote this process.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/1/62epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT/MET)glycosphingolipidsgangliosidesglobosidescell migration/invasion |
| spellingShingle | Cécile Cumin Yen-Lin Huang Arun Everest-Dass Francis Jacob Deciphering the Importance of Glycosphingolipids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer Biomolecules epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT/MET) glycosphingolipids gangliosides globosides cell migration/invasion |
| title | Deciphering the Importance of Glycosphingolipids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer |
| title_full | Deciphering the Importance of Glycosphingolipids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Deciphering the Importance of Glycosphingolipids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deciphering the Importance of Glycosphingolipids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer |
| title_short | Deciphering the Importance of Glycosphingolipids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer |
| title_sort | deciphering the importance of glycosphingolipids on cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition in cancer |
| topic | epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT/MET) glycosphingolipids gangliosides globosides cell migration/invasion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/1/62 |
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