Identification and functional characterization of a highly divergent N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (TbGnTI) in Trypanosoma brucei.

ABSTRACT: Trypanosoma brucei expresses a diverse repertoire of N-glycans, ranging from oligomannose and paucimannose structures to exceptionally large complex N-glycans. Despite the presence of the latter, no obvious homologues of known β1-4-galactosyltransferase or β1-2- or β1-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase genes have been found in the parasite genome. However, we previously reported a family of putative UDP-sugar-dependent glycosyltransferases with similarity to the mammalian β1-3-glycosyltransferase family. Here we characterize one of these genes, TbGT11, and show that it encodes a Golgi apparatus resident UDP-GlcNAc:α3-D-mannoside β1-2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I activity (TbGnTI). The bloodstream-form TbGT11 null mutant exhibited significantly modified protein N-glycans but normal grow

SUBMITTER: Damerow M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3979372 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature