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Functional rafts in cell membranes

Nature volume 387, pages 569–572 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

A new aspect of cell membrane structure is presented, based on the dynamic clustering of sphingolipids and cholesterol to form rafts that move within the fluid bilayer. It is proposed that these rafts function as platforms for the attachment of proteins when membranes are moved around inside the cell and during signal transduction.

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Figure 1: Model for the organization of rafts and caveolae in the plasma membrane.
Figure 2: Two postulated post-Golgi circuits in MDCK cells (a) and fibroblasts (b).

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Acknowledgements

We thank E. Radeck for preparing the manuscript, and D. Brown, R. Brown, A. Kusumi, A. Helenius, G. van Meer, A. Watts, and members of K.S.'s laboratory for helpful criticism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Cell Biology Programme, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany

    Kai Simons

  2. Department of Biochemistry, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300, Helsinki, Finland

    Elina Ikonen

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  1. Kai Simons
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Simons, K., Ikonen, E. Functional rafts in cell membranes. Nature 387, 569–572 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/42408

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