A bifunctional diglycosyltransferase forms the Fucalpha1,2Galbeta1,3-disaccharide on Skp1 in the cytoplasm of dictyostelium

J Biol Chem. 2002 Nov 29;277(48):46527-34. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M208824200. Epub 2002 Sep 18.

Abstract

Skp1 is a subunit of the Skp1 cullin-1 F-box protein (SCF) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases and of other regulatory complexes in the cytoplasm and nucleus. In Dictyostelium, Skp1 is modified by a pentasaccharide with the type I blood group H antigen (Fucalpha1,2Galbeta1,3GlcNAc-) at its core. Addition of the Fuc is catalyzed by FT85, a 768-amino acid protein whose fucosyltransferase activity maps to the C-terminal half of the protein. A strain whose FT85 gene is interrupted by a genetic insertion produces a truncated, GlcNAc-terminated glycan on Skp1, suggesting that FT85 may also have beta-galactosyltransferase activity. In support of this model, highly purified native and recombinant FT85 are each able to galactosylate Skp1 from FT85 mutant cells. Site-directed mutagenesis of predicted key amino acids in the N-terminal region of FT85 abolishes Skp1 beta-galactosyltransferase activity with minimal effects on the fucosyltransferase. In addition, a recombinant form of the N-terminal region exhibits beta-galactosyltransferase but not fucosyltransferase activity. Kinetic analysis of FT85 suggests that its two glycosyltransferase activities normally modify Skp1 processively but can have partial function individually. In conclusion, FT85 is a bifunctional diglycosyltransferase that appears to be designed to efficiently extend the Skp1 glycan in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / chemistry
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytoplasm / enzymology
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism*
  • Dictyostelium / enzymology
  • Dictyostelium / metabolism*
  • Disaccharides / metabolism*
  • Glycosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Disaccharides
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins
  • Glycosyltransferases