Lipophosphoglycan

Lipophosphoglycan (sometimes abbreviated to LPG) is a class of molecule found on the surface of some eukaryotes, in particular protozoa. A lipophosphoglycan is made up of two parts; a lipid part and a polysaccharide (also called glycan) part. The two are linked by a phosphodiester bond, hence the name lipo-phospho-glycan. The lipid part of the lipophosphoglycan is normally found embedded in the cell membrane and the glycan part forms part of the coat of macromolecules on the cell surface.

A notable group of organisms which have an extensive lipophosphoglycan coat are the Leishmania spp, a group of single-celled protozoan parasite which cause Leishmaniasis in many mammals, including humans. The lipophosphoglycan coat in these organisms has an important role in modulating the host's immune system response to the parasite.