Figures & data
Figure 1. Structure of the different polar heads of plant GIPCs. A, Tobacco GIPC of the series A, hydroxyl groups and net negative charges are indicated Citation14,Citation9; B, Polar head variability of plant GIPCs. GIPC series bearing from one (series 0) to 7 saccharide units (series F). Abbreviations are as follow: Ins: Inositol; Cer: ceramide; FA: Fatty Acid; Gal: galactose; GlcA: glucuronic acid; GlcN: glucosamine; Hex: hexose; (hVLC)FA: (hydroxylated very long chain) fatty acid; LCB: Long Chain Base; Pen: pentose.
Figure 2. Putative model of plant Plasma Membrane lipid organization. The specific interactions between hydroxyl groups of GIPCs with sitosterols are showed in (a), the interdigitation between VLCFA of GIPC in the outer leaflet and FA of Dioleoyl Phosphatidylcholine (Dioleoyl PC) in the inner leaflet are showed in (b).Citation16
Figure 3. Comparison of the biosynthesis of animal ganglioside/sulfatides and plant GIPCs (mostly tobacco). Plant and animal glycosphingolipids are synthesized stepwise by the action of glycosyltransferases. For clarity, the biosynthesis of gangliosides is simplified, e.g., the different forms of sialic acids with 50 naturally occurring structures, are not indicated, as well a number of minor lipids. When known, the genes responsible for the expression of each glycosyltransferase are purple. Note the important number of “?” in the structure and biosynthesis of plant GIPCs.
