Kinetic analysis of a Golgi UDP-GlcNAc : polypeptide-Thr/Ser N-acetyl-alpha-glucosaminyltransferase from Dictyostelium


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Ercan A., West C.

GLYCOBIOLOGY, vol.15, no.5, pp.489-500, 2005 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2005
  • Doi Number: 10.1093/glycob/cwi034
  • Journal Name: GLYCOBIOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.489-500
  • Abdullah Gül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Mucin-type O-glycosylation in Dictyostelium is initiated in the Golgi by a UDP-GlcNAc:polypeptide-Thr/Ser N-acetyl-alpha-glucosaminyltransferase (Dd-pp alpha GlcNAcT2) whose sequence is distantly related to the sequences of animal polypeptide-Thr/Ser N-acetyl-alpha-galactosaminyltransferases, such as murine Mm-pp alpha GalNAcT1. To evaluate the significance of this similarity, highly purified Dd-pp alpha GlcNAcT2 was assayed using synthetic peptides derived from known substrates. Dd-pp alpha GlcNAcT2 strongly prefers UDP-GlcNAc over UDP-GalNAc, preferentially modifies the central region of the peptide, and modifies Ser in addition to Thr residues. Initial velocity measurements performed over a matrix of UDP-GlcNAc donor and peptide acceptor concentrations indicate that the substrates bind to the enzyme in ordered fashion before the chemical conversion. Substrate inhibition exerted by a second peptide, and the pattern of product inhibition exerted by UDP, suggest that UDP-GlcNAc binds first and the peptide binds second, consistent with data reported for Mm-pp alpha GalNAcT1. Two selective competitive inhibitors of Mm-pp alpha GalNAcT1, retrieved from a screen of neutral-charge uridine derivatives, also inhibit Dd-pp alpha GlcNAcT1 competitively with only slightly less efficacy. Inhibition is specific for Dd-pp alpha GlcNAcT2 relative to two other Dictyostelium retaining glycosyltransferases. These data support a phylogenetic model in which the alpha GlcNAcT function in unicellular eukaryotes converted to an alpha GalNAcT function in the metazoan ortholog while conserving a similar reaction mechanism and active site architecture.