The N-X-S/T consensus sequence is required but not sufficient for bacterial N-linked protein glycosylation

Glycobiology. 2005 Apr;15(4):361-7. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwi019. Epub 2004 Dec 1.

Abstract

In the Gram-negative bacterium Campylobacter jejuni there is a pgl (protein glycosylation) locus-dependent general N-glycosylation system of proteins. One of the proteins encoded by pgl locus, PglB, a homolog of the eukaryotic oligosaccharyltransferase component Stt3p, is proposed to function as an oligosaccharyltransferase in this prokaryotic system. The sequence requirements of the acceptor polypeptide for N-glycosylation were analyzed by reverse genetics using the reconstituted glycosylation of the model protein AcrA in Escherichia coli. As in eukaryotes, the N-X-S/T sequon is an essential but not a sufficient determinant for N-linked protein glycosylation. This conclusion was supported by the analysis of a novel C. jejuni glycoprotein, HisJ. Export of the polypeptide to the periplasm was required for glycosylation. Our data support the hypothesis that eukaryotic and bacterial N-linked protein glycosylation are homologous processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Campylobacter jejuni / genetics*
  • Glycosylation
  • Hexosyltransferases / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / genetics*
  • Protein Transport / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Hexosyltransferases
  • dolichyl-diphosphooligosaccharide - protein glycotransferase