PIG-K Activators

Phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis class K protein (PIG-K), also known as Gpi8, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PIGK gene. This protein is an integral part of the GPI transamidase complex, which is involved in the attachment of proteins to the cell surface via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors.

GPI anchors are glycolipids that attach to the C-terminus of specific proteins, enabling them to anchor to the cell membrane. They play a crucial role in various biological processes, including signal transduction, protein sorting, and cell-cell interactions.PIG-K/Gpi8, as a component of the GPI transamidase complex, is involved in the final step of GPI anchoring. It cleaves the GPI anchor precursor at its preformed signal peptide, and simultaneously transfers the protein to the exposed GPI structure. The resulting GPI-anchored protein can then be transported to the cell surface.Defects in other parts of the GPI anchor biosynthesis pathway have been linked to a group of disorders known as GPI-anchor deficiencies, which can have wide-ranging effects, from developmental delay to epilepsy.