Site mapping and characterization of O-glycan structures on alpha-dystroglycan isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle

J Biol Chem. 2010 Aug 6;285(32):24882-91. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.126474. Epub 2010 May 27.

Abstract

The main extracellular matrix binding component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, alpha-dystroglycan (alpha-DG), which was originally isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle, is an extensively O-glycosylated protein. Previous studies have shown alpha-DG to be modified by both O-GalNAc- and O-mannose-initiated glycan structures. O-Mannosylation, which accounts for up to 30% of the reported O-linked structures in certain tissues, has been rarely observed on mammalian proteins. Mutations in multiple genes encoding defined or putative glycosyltransferases involved in O-mannosylation are causal for various forms of congenital muscular dystrophy. Here, we explore the glycosylation of purified rabbit skeletal muscle alpha-DG in detail. Using tandem mass spectrometry approaches, we identify 4 O-mannose-initiated and 17 O-GalNAc-initiated structures on alpha-DG isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle. Additionally, we demonstrate the use of tandem mass spectrometry-based workflows to directly analyze glycopeptides generated from the purified protein. By combining glycomics and tandem mass spectrometry analysis of 91 glycopeptides from alpha-DG, we were able to assign 21 different residues as being modified by O-glycosylation with differing degrees of microheterogeneity; 9 sites of O-mannosylation and 14 sites of O-GalNAcylation were observed with only two sites definitively exhibiting occupancy by either type of glycan. The distribution of identified sites of O-mannosylation suggests a limited role for local primary sequence in dictating sites of attachment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbohydrates / chemistry
  • Dystroglycans / chemistry*
  • Glycoconjugates / chemistry
  • Glycomics / methods
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Glycosylation
  • Laminin / chemistry
  • Mannose / chemistry
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Rabbits
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / methods

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Glycoconjugates
  • Glycoproteins
  • Laminin
  • Polysaccharides
  • laminin 1
  • Dystroglycans
  • Mannose