Glycopeptide specificity of the secretory protein folding sensor UDP-glucose glycoprotein:glucosyltransferase.

ABSTRACT: Secretory and membrane N-linked glycoproteins undergo folding and oligomeric assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum with the aid of a folding mechanism known as the calnexin cycle. UDP-glucose glycoprotein:glucosyltransferase (UGGT) is the sensor component of the calnexin cycle, which recognizes these glycoproteins when they are incompletely folded, and transfers a glucose residue from UDP-glucose to N-linked Man9-GlcNAc2 glycans. To determine how UGGT recognizes incompletely folded glycoproteins, we used purified enzyme to glucosylate a set of Man9-GlcNAc2 glycopeptide substrates in vitro, and determined quantitatively the glucose incorporation into each glycan by mass spectrometry. A ranked order of glycopeptide specificity was found that provides the criteria for the recognition of substrates by UGGT. The preference for amino-acid residues close to N-linked glycans provides criteria for the recognition of glycopeptide substrates by UGGT.

SUBMITTER: Taylor SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1319153 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature