Molecular determinants of co- and post-translational N-glycosylation of type I transmembrane peptides

Biochem J. 2013 Aug 1;453(3):427-34. doi: 10.1042/BJ20130028.

Abstract

Type I transmembrane peptides acquire N-linked glycans during and after protein synthesis to facilitate anterograde trafficking through the secretory pathway. Mutations in N-glycosylation consensus sites (NXT and NXS, where X≠P) that alter the kinetics of the initial N-glycan attachment have been associated with cardiac arrhythmias; however, the molecular determinants that define co- and post-translational consensus sites in proteins are not known. In the present study, we identified co- and post-translational consensus sites in the KCNE family of K+ channel regulatory subunits to uncover three determinants that favour co-translational N-glycosylation kinetics of type I transmembrane peptides which lack a cleavable signal sequence: threonine-containing consensus sites (NXT), multiple N-terminal consensus sites and long C-termini. The identification of these three molecular determinants now makes it possible to predict co- and post-translational consensus sites in type I transmembrane peptides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Glycosylation
  • Hexosyltransferases / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational

Substances

  • KCNE1 protein, human
  • KCNE2 protein, human
  • KCNE3 protein, human
  • KCNE4 protein, human
  • KCNE5 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated
  • Hexosyltransferases
  • dolichyl-diphosphooligosaccharide - protein glycotransferase