N-glycosylation in Archaea – Expanding the process, components and roles of a universal post-translational modification

Zlata Vershinin, Marianna Zaretsky, Jerry Eichler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

While performed by all three domains of life, N-glycosylation in Archaea is less well described than are the parallel eukaryal and bacterial processes. Still, what is known of the archaeal version of this universal post-translational modification reveals numerous seemingly domain-specific traits. Specifically, the biosynthesis of archaeal N-linked glycans relies on distinct pathway steps and components, rare sugars and sugar modifications, as well as unique lipid carriers upon which N-linked glycans are assembled. At the same time, Archaea possess the apparently unique ability to simultaneously modify their glycoproteins with very different N-linked glycans. In addition to these biochemical aspects of archaeal N-glycosylation, such post-translational modification has been found to serve a wide range of roles possibly unique to Archaea, including allowing these microorganisms to not only cope with the harsh physical conditions of the niches they can inhabit but also providing the ability to adapt to transient changes in such environments.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100120
JournalBBA Advances
Volume6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2024

Keywords

  • Archaea
  • Extremophile
  • Glycoprotein
  • N-glycosylation
  • Post-translational modification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

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