Research achievement by Prof. Taroh Kinoshita was published in Cell.

Prof. Kinoshita and colleagues revealed the function of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor in the protein trafficking. Many eukaryotic proteins are attached to the cell surface via GPI anchors. The colleagues have developed mutant cell lines that are selectively defective in transport of GPI-anchored proteins. They identified a responsible protein, designated PGAP5, which catalyzes the remodeling of glycan moiety of GPI. The GPI glycan thus functions as an ER-exit signal and regulates GPI-anchored protein transport in the early secretory pathway. This work was published in October 16 issue of Cell. The Yomiuri Shinbun, The Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun, Nikkei Sangyo Shinbun, and The Science News reported on the work.