Biological functions of sulfoglycolipids and the EMARS method for identification of co-clustered molecules in the membrane microdomains.

Two major sulfoglycolipids, sulfatide (SO3-3Gal-ceramide) and seminolipid (SO3-3Gal-alkylacylglycerol) exist in mammals. Sulfatide is abundant in the myelin sheath and seminolipid is unique to the spermatogenic cells. The carbohydrate moiety of sulfatide and seminolipid is identical and synthesized by common enzymes: ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGT) and cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST). We have purified CST homogenously, cloned the CST gene and generated CST-knockout mice. CST-null mice completely lack sulfoglycolipids all over the body. Analysis of CST-null mice has revealed that sulfatide is an essential component for the axo-glial junction at the paranode region and regulates terminal differentiation of oligodendrocytes, and that seminolipid is responsible for the formation of a functional lactate transporter assembly to take up the critical energy source for spermatocytes. We have developed a new analytical method termed EMARS to identify co-clustered molecules in the membrane microdomains in order to elucidate the functional molecules that collaborate with sulfoglycolipids.