Background information
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) acts as a membrane anchor for cell surface proteins. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment 1 protein (GPAA1), also designated GPI anchor attachment protein 1 or GAA1 protein homolog, is a membrane protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum which is involved in GPI-anchor biosynthesis. GPAA1 is crucial for GPI-anchoring of precursor proteins and catalyzes the attachment of GPI to proteins containing a C-terminal GPR attachment signal. GAA1 contains an N-terminal signal sequence, one cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site, two potential N-glycosylation sites, one leucine zipper pattern and eight putative transmembrane domains. GPAA1 is ubiquitously expressed and shows higher levels of expression in fetal tissues than in adult tissues.
