Transient GPI-anchored protein homodimers are units for raft organization and function

Advanced single-molecule fluorescent imaging was applied to study the dynamic organization of raft-associated glycosylphosphatidylinositol- anchored proteins (GPI-APs) in the plasma membrane and their stimulation-induced changes. In resting cells, virtually all of the GPI-APs are mobile and continually form transient (similar to 200 ms) homodimers (termed homodimer rafts) through ectodomain protein interactions, stabilized by the presence of the GPI-anchoring chain and cholesterol. Heterodimers do not form, suggesting a fundamental role for the specific ectodomain protein interaction. Under higher physiological expression conditions, homodimers coalesce to form hetero- and homo-GPI-AP oligomer rafts through raft-based lipid interactions. When CD59 was ligated, it formed stable oligomer rafts containing up to four CD59 molecules, which triggered intracellular Ca2+ responses that were dependent on GPI anchorage and cholesterol, suggesting a key part played by transient homodimer rafts. Transient homodimer rafts are most likely one of the basic units for the organization and function of raft domains containing GPI-APs.