Lipophosphoglycan
Lipophosphoglycan (sometimes abbreviated to LPG) is a class of molecules found on the surface of some eukaryotes, in particular protozoa. A lipophosphoglycan is made up of two parts; a lipid part and a polysaccharide (also called glycan) part. The two are linked by a phosphodiester bond, hence the name lipo-phospho-glycan.[1]
A notable group of organisms which have an extensive lipophosphoglycan coat are the Leishmania species, a group of single-celled protozoan parasite which cause Leishmaniasis in many mammals, including humans. The lipophosphoglycan coat in these organisms has an important role in modulating the host's immune system response to the parasite.[2]
References
- ^ Forestier, Claire-Lise; Gao, Qi; Boons, Geert-Jan. "Leishmania lipophosphoglycan: how to establish structure-activity relationships for this highly complex and multifunctional glycoconjugate?". Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 4 (193). PMID 25653924.
- ^ Turco, SJ; Descoteaux, A. "The lipophosphoglycan of Leishmania parasites". Annual Review of Microbiology. 46. PMID 1444269.
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