The Role of Sulfatides in Axon-Glia Interactions.

Myelin is heavily enriched in lipids (comprising approximately 70% of its dry weight), and the amount of cholesterol and glycolipids is higher than in any other cell membrane. Galactocerebroside (GalC) and its sulfated form, sulfatide, comprise the major glycolipid components of myelin. Their functional significance has been extensively studied using membrane models, cell culture, and in vivo experiments in which either GalC/sulfatide or sulfatide is deficient. From these studies, GalC and sulfatide have been distinctly localized within oligodendrocytes and their specific function in myelin has been elucidated. Here, the function of sulfatide in axo-glial interactions in myelin-forming cells as well as within myelin and its potential mechanisms of action are discussed.