The ins and outs of lipid rafts: functions in intracellular cholesterol homeostasis, microparticles, and cell membranes: Thematic Review Series: Biology of Lipid Rafts. J Lipid Res 2020 May;61(5):676-686
Date
03/16/2021Pubmed ID
33715815Pubmed Central ID
PMC7193959DOI
10.1194/jlr.TR119000383Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85084961109 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 77 CitationsAbstract
Cellular membranes are not homogenous mixtures of proteins; rather, they are segregated into microdomains on the basis of preferential association between specific lipids and proteins. These microdomains, called lipid rafts, are well known for their role in receptor signaling on the plasma membrane (PM) and are essential to such cellular functions as signal transduction and spatial organization of the PM. A number of disease states, including atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disorders, may be caused by dysfunctional maintenance of lipid rafts. Lipid rafts do not occur only in the PM but also have been found in intracellular membranes and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Here, we focus on discussing newly discovered functions of lipid rafts and microdomains in intracellular membranes, including lipid and protein trafficking from the ER, Golgi bodies, and endosomes to the PM, and we examine lipid raft involvement in the production and composition of EVs. Because lipid rafts are small and transient, visualization remains challenging. Future work with advanced techniques will continue to expand our knowledge about the roles of lipid rafts in cellular functioning.
Author List
Ouweneel AB, Thomas MJ, Sorci-Thomas MGAuthors
Mary Sorci Thomas PhD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMichael J. Thomas PhD Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsCholesterol
Homeostasis
Humans
Intracellular Space
Membrane Microdomains
