Advance on glycosphingolipids as receptor forBacillus thuringiensis toxins

Glycosphingolipid(GSLs) is a class of glucoside compounds, taking ceramide as maternal structure and being glycosylated on 1-hydroxyl group of ceramide. As compounds of lipid rafts ,GSLs ensure the stability and strength of the membrane structure, and involved in the signal transduction of cell membrane and activate signal transmission. As one of the receptors of Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt) crystal proteins in invertebrates, GSLs impact the sensitivity of target organisms to Bt toxins. GSLs are firstly identified by Bt toxins through glycosylation-specific structure, then they guide the Bt toxins inserting into the cell membrane, resulting in perforation of midgut in the target organism and finally the organism die. The classification, distribution and function of GSLs in organisms, the analysis methods of the structure of GSLs, the relationship between GSLs and Bt toxins, the glycosyltransferases involving in synthesis of GSLs were reviewed.