Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuen-Shiuan Wang, Virginia del Solar, Xinheng Yu, Aristotelis Antonopoulos, Alan E. Friedman, Kavita Agarwal, Monika Garg, Syed Meheboob Ahmed, Ahana Addhya, Mehrab Nasirikenari, Joseph T. Lau, Anne Dell, Stuart M. Haslam, Srinivasa-Gopalan Sampathkumar, Sriram Neelamegham
Summary: Ac(5)GalNTGc is an effective inhibitor of O-glycosylation, truncating O-glycan biosynthesis in leukocytes and cells. It mainly affects O-glycans, with minimal impact on N-glycans and glycosphingolipids. In mouse experiments, Ac(5)GalNTGc showed potential in reducing leukocyte infiltration to sites of inflammation.
CELL CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marilica Zemkollari, Markus Blaukopf, Reingard Grabherr, Erika Staudacher
Summary: This study reports the first cloned T-synthase from a mollusc origin, which plays a crucial role in the UDP-Gal: glycoprotein-N-acetylgalactosamine beta-1,3-galactosyltransferase of the fresh-water snail.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Zhuojia Xu, Yaqi Deng, Zhumin Zhang, Wenjing Ma, Wanjin Li, Liuqing Wen, Tiehai Li
Summary: A diversity-oriented chemoenzymatic approach was used for the collective preparation of sulfated core 2 O-GalNAc glycans and their nonsulfated counterparts. A sulfated trisaccharide and a nonsulfated trisaccharide were chemically synthesized, then enzymatic extension was carried out using a panel of robust glycosyltransferases to achieve regioselective sialylation, resulting in the generation of 36 structurally well-defined O-GalNAc glycans.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Adam E. Lynch, Leslie R. Noble, Catherine S. Jones, Edwin J. Routledge
Summary: This study developed an in vitro toolkit to investigate the impacts of common aquatic pollutants on the immune responses of B. glabrata, a freshwater mollusc. The results suggest that pollutants may alter innate immune responses in B. glabrata and potentially impact the dynamics of parasite transmission between molluscs and humans.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Candido Carvalho Rodrigues, Maxwell Batista Caixeta, Paula Sampaio Araujo, Bruno Bastos Goncalves, Olacir Alves Araujo, Luciana Damacena Silva, Thiago Lopes Rocha
Summary: The study found that exposure to gluconic-acid functionalized IONPs and FeCl3 resulted in various gonadal histopathological changes in snails, with GLA-IONPs inducing a more intense inflammatory response. Environmentally relevant concentration (2.5 mg L-1) of both GLA-IONPs and FeCl3 led to high gonadal histopathological indices, indicating their potential reproductive toxicity.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yogita Sharma, Shimona Ahlawat, Alka Ashish, Alka Rao
Summary: This study describes the shape-function relationship of SvGT (S/O-HexNActransferase) in the glycosylation process of bacteriocin SvC (ORF AQF52_3099) in Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 15439. Experimental data confirmed that SvGT protein adopts an elongated dimeric shape in solution. The activation of SvGT requires the availability of Mg2+ ions, as confirmed by enzyme assays. SAXS analysis revealed the structural changes induced by Mg2+ ions and the role of conserved residues in the catalytic motif of SvGT.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Li Xia, Tiffany R. Bellomo, Ruslan Gibadullin, Molly D. Congdon, Elijah F. Edmondson, Mi Li, Alexander Wlodawer, Crystal Li, J. Sebastian Temme, Pavan Patel, Donna Butcher, Jeffrey C. Gildersleeve
Summary: In this study, a new type of glycosylation called GalNAc-Tyr was discovered, and a selective antibody named G10C with high affinity and selectivity for GalNAc-Tyr was developed. The research revealed that GalNAc-Tyr is widely expressed in human tissues and may be regulated in a cell-specific manner. Furthermore, the localization of GalNAc-Tyr may be altered in certain cancer cells.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Johannie M. Spaan, Nathaniel Leavitt, Jessica Shen, Taylor Bundy, Lillian Burrows, Christopher Ingram, Thomas R. Maehara, Ibrahim Ndungu, Martin Mutuku, George Owino, Maurice Odiere, Michelle L. Steinauer
Summary: The response of snail vectors to heat shock may vary depending on genetic factors, influencing their resistance to the human pathogen Schistosoma mansoni. However, the effects of heat shock on infection prevalence and intensity are minimal in two species of snail vectors examined in this study.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathon E. Mohl, Thomas A. Gerken, Ming-Ying Leung
Summary: ISOGlyP is a tool developed to predict O-glycosylation sites based on specific GalNAc-T isoforms, with an overall prediction accuracy of 70%, comparable to NetOGlyc4.0 predictor. It can identify known glycosylation effects and generate potential peptide sequences selectively glycosylated by specific isoforms.
Article
Virology
Ieva Bagdonaite, Andrew J. Thompson, Xiaoning Wang, Max Sogaard, Cyrielle Fougeroux, Martin Frank, Jolene K. Diedrich, John R. Yates, Ali Salanti, Sergey Y. Vakhrushev, James C. Paulson, Hans H. Wandall
Summary: Enveloped viruses hijack host glycosylation machinery and cover viral surface proteins with host-like structures. A study mapped O-glycosylation sites on SARS-CoV-2 surface protein S, identifying 25 sites primarily located near N-glycosites. O-glycosylation was found on unoccupied peptide regions and had negligible effects on subunit vaccine design.
Article
Immunology
Remi Pichon, Silvain Pinaud, Emmanuel Vignal, Cristian Chaparro, Marine Pratlong, Anais Portet, David Duval, Richard Galinier, Benjamin Gourbal
Summary: This study used single cell RNA sequencing technology to discover seven transcriptomic populations of hemocytes in Biomphalaria glabrata snails. The high heterogeneity and plasticity of hemocytes provide new insights into their role in response to pathogens and Schistosoma mansoni parasites.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jhenifer Santos dos Reis, Marcos Andre Rodrigues da Costa Santos, Kelli Monteiro da Costa, Celio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima, Alexandre Morrot, Jose Osvaldo Previato, Lucia Mendonca Previato, Leonardo Marques da Fonseca, Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
Summary: Changes in protein glycosylation are a characteristic feature of transformed cells and play a role in cancer progression, including the development of multidrug resistance (MDR). UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-6 (pp-GalNAc-T6) is a glycosyltransferase involved in various events associated with cancer progression. This study demonstrates the role of pp-GalNAc-T6 in the acquisition of MDR phenotype in breast cancer cells, showing that its expression is upregulated along with the O-glycosylation of oncofetal fibronectin (onf-FN) during MDR development. Silencing pp-GalNAc-T6 not only decreases onf-FN expression but also makes MDR cells more sensitive to anticancer drugs, partially reversing the MDR phenotype.
Article
Immunology
Silvain Pinaud, Guillaume Tetreau, Pierre Poteaux, Richard Galinier, Cristian Chaparro, Damien Lassalle, Anais Portet, Elodie Simphor, Benjamin Gourbal, David Duval
Summary: Aerolysins, originally identified as bacterial virulence factors, are now being found in metazoans through horizontal gene transfer. A study on the Biomphalaria glabrata snail reveals a multigene family called biomphalysin, which is a novel and diversified toxin family formed by duplication and domestication of acquired bacterial toxin genes in the snail genome. The different biomphalysin toxins exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns and have the potential to expand the snail's immune arsenal by binding to pathogens.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yi Zhu, Gerald W. Hart
Summary: O-GlcNAc is a dynamic post-translational modification that affects protein functions. In this study, a dual RNA-aptamer-based approach was developed to selectively increase O-GlcNAcylation of (3-catenin without affecting other OGT substrates. The increased O-GlcNAcylation of (3-catenin stabilized the protein, altered its interactions with (3-TrCP and EZH2, and resulted in significant changes in the transcriptome. The use of riboswitches or an inducible expression system coupled with aptamers allowed for inducible regulation of protein-specific O-GlcNAcylation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ping Lu, Yusong Liu, Maozhou He, Ting Cao, Mengquan Yang, Shutao Qi, Hongtao Yu, Haishan Gao
Summary: O-GlcNAcylation is an important post-translational modification that regulates cellular processes. The enzymes OGT and OGA mediate the addition and removal of O-GlcNAc on proteins. Cryo-EM structures reveal the mechanism by which OGT selects substrates and the mutual inhibition between OGT and OGA.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Johannes Fuehrer, Katharina M. Pichler, Anita Fischer, Alexander Giurea, Daniela Weinmann, Friedrich Altmann, Reinhard Windhager, Hans-Joachim Gabius, Stefan Toegel
Summary: The study found that the N-glycan profiles of chondrocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes change during cellular dedifferentiation, which is related to disease progression. Galectins-1 and -3 can enhance the expression of interleukin-1 beta in cells, promoting inflammatory responses. N-glycosylation reflects changes in cell phenotype in osteoarthritis, and synoviocytes may contribute to disease progression by inducing proinflammatory markers.
PROTEOMICS CLINICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tesfaye Rufael Chibssa, Yang Liu, Melaku Sombo, Jacqueline Kasiiti Lichoti, Janchivdorj Erdenebaatar, Bazartseren Boldbaatar, Reingard Grabherr, Tirumala Bharani K. Settypalli, Francisco J. Berguido, Angelika Loitsch, Delesa Damena, Giovanni Cattoli, Adama Diallo, Charles Euloge Lamien
Summary: Researchers have sequenced the GPCR gene of GTPVs and classified them based on geographical origin, dividing them into African and Asian GTPVs, with Asian further split into WCA and ESA GTPVs. This approach helps to determine the source of GTPV emergence in disease-free regions and detect the importation of additional strains in disease-endemic areas.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bernhard Kienesberger, Beate Obermueller, Georg Singer, Barbara Mittl, Reingard Grabherr, Sigrid Mayrhofer, Stefan Heinl, Vanessa Stadlbauer, Angela Horvath, Wolfram Miekisch, Patricia Fuchs, Ingeborg Klymiuk, Holger Till, Christoph Castellani
Summary: The study assessed the antimicrobial activity of (S)-reutericyclin against various bacteria in vitro and its effects on the fecal microbiome and VOC profile in murine models in vivo. Results showed that (S)-reutericyclin only inhibited the growth of S. epidermidis, leading to shifts in microbiome composition and alterations in fecal VOC profile. This differs from previous reports on (R)-reutericyclin and highlights the potential dysbiotic effects of (S)-reutericyclin in vivo.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tesfaye Rufael Chibssa, Melaku Sombo, Jacqueline Kasiiti Lichoti, Tajelser Idris Badri Adam, Yang Liu, Yazeed Abd Elraouf, Reingard Grabherr, Tirumala Bharani K. Settypalli, Francisco J. Berguido, Angelika Loitsch, Mesfin Sahle, Giovanni Cattoli, Adama Diallo, Charles Euloge Lamien
Summary: The study revealed a high genetic similarity among East African isolates of Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), with the exception of one isolate showing mixed features between LSDV Neethling vaccine and field isolates. Further analysis of various genes indicated differences from previously described LSDV variants carrying a 12-nucleotide insertion in the GPCR gene.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Markus B. Tomek, Bettina Janesch, Matthias L. Braun, Manfred Taschner, Rudolf Figl, Clemens Gruenwald-Gruber, Michael J. Coyne, Markus Blaukopf, Friedrich Altmann, Paul Kosma, Hanspeter Kaehlig, Laurie E. Comstock, Christina Schaeffer
Summary: Various members of the Bacteroidetes phylum possess general protein O-glycosylation systems that are crucial for processes such as host colonization and pathogenesis. The FucT family, widely encoded in Bacteroidetes protein O-glycosylation genetic loci, shows similar functions in different species and exhibits flexibility in transferring l-fucose.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Johannes Helm, Lena Hirtler, Friedrich Altmann
Summary: This study conducted an isomer-specific analysis of human brain N-glycome using standardized porous graphitic carbon LC-MS/MS technology, revealing structural differences and specific structures associated with neuronal diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David Stenitzer, Reka Mocsai, Harald Zechmeister, Ralf Reski, Eva L. Decker, Friedrich Altmann
Summary: A diverse range of N-glycan structures with phylogenetic specificities have emerged in the animal kingdom, while N-glycosylation in the plant kingdom appears to be more conservative and uniform. However, the analysis of several moss species revealed variations in N-glycan structures and levels of O-methylation, which suggests a possible evolutionary relation to green algae.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erika Staudacher
Summary: Molluscs exhibit a highly diverse N-glycan pattern on their proteins, surpassing even that of vertebrates in terms of structural features. This review outlines the current understanding of mollusc N-glycan structures, with a focus on the functional significance of the corresponding glycoproteins. Additionally, it discusses the potential medical applications of biomolecules derived from molluscs, highlighting the significance of mollusc research.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akos Tiboldi, Johannes Fuehrer, Wolfgang Schaubmayr, Eva Hunyadi-Gulyas, Marie Louise Zach, Beatrix Hochreiter, Andreas Spittler, Roman Ullrich, Klaus Markstaller, Friedrich Altmann, Klaus Ulrich Klein, Verena Tretter
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different oxygen conditions on the glycobiology of the pulmonary endothelium, showing that oxygen can influence glycan structures which in turn affect cell interactions and signaling.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Klanschnig, Monika Cserjan-Puschmann, Gerald Striedner, Reingard Grabherr
Summary: A new CRISPRa construct, named SMS, was discovered, which combines the PAM independent Cas9 variant SpRY with phage protein MCP fused to transcriptional activator SoxS. It can accurately up-regulate endogenous genes in bacteria and control transgenes at non-NGG PAM sites.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erika Staudacher, Els J. M. Van Damme, Guy Smagghe
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christina Sophie Hausjell, Wolfgang Ernst, Clemens Gruenwald-Gruber, Elsa Arcalis, Reingard Grabherr
Summary: Due to its suitability in producing complex biopharmaceutical products, the baculovirus/insect cell expression system has become popular in the biotechnological industry. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), small particles used for intracellular communication, may play a significant role in virus-cell communication and infection spreading. This study isolated and characterized EVs from both uninfected and baculovirus infected Tnms42 insect cells and found significant changes in EV protein cargo upon infection, suggesting a major role of EVs as stress markers. The findings may contribute to improving biopharmaceutical production within the baculovirus/insect cell expression system through the development of new process monitoring and control tools.
Article
Allergy
Stephanie Dramburg, Christiane Hilger, Alexandra F. Santos, Leticia de las Vecillas, Rob C. Aalberse, Nathalie Acevedo, Lorenz Aglas, Friedrich Altmann, Karla L. Arruda, Riccardo Asero, Barbara Ballmer-Weber, Domingo Barber, Kirsten Beyer, Tilo Biedermann, Maria Beatrice Bilo, Simon Blank, Philipp P. Bosshard, Heimo Breiteneder, Helen A. Brough, Merima Bublin, Dianne Campbell, Luis Caraballo, Jean Christoph Caubet, Giorgio Celi, Martin D. Chapman, Maksymilian Chruszcz, Adnan Custovic, Rebecca Czolk, Janet Davies, Nikolaos Douladiris, Bernadette Eberlein, Motohiro Ebisawa, Anna Ehlers, Philippe Eigenmann, Gabriele Gadermaier, Mattia Giovannini, Francisca Gomez, Rebecca Grohman, Carole Guillet, Christine Hafner, Robert G. Hamilton, Michael Hauser, Thomas Hawranek, Hans Juergen Hoffmann, Thomas Holzhauser, Tomona Iizuka, Alain Jacquet, Thilo Jakob, Bente Janssen-Weets, Uta Jappe, Marek Jutel, Tanja Kalic, Sandip Kamath, Sabine Kespohl, Joerg Kleine-Tebbe, Edward Knol, Andre Knulst, Jon R. Konradsen, Peter Korosec, Annette Kuehn, Gideon Lack, Thuy-My Le, Andreas Lopata, Olga Luengo, Mika Maekelae, Alessandro Maria Marra, Clare Mills, Martine Morisset, Antonella Muraro, Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn, Roni Nugraha, Markus Ollert, Kati Palosuo, Elide Anna Pastorello, Sarita Ulhas Patil, Thomas Platts-Mills, Anna Pomes, Pascal Poncet, Ekaterina Potapova, Lars K. Poulsen, Christian Radauer, Suzana Radulovic, Monika Raulf, Pierre Rouge, Joaquin Sastre, Sakura Sato, Enrico Scala, Johannes M. Schmid, Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier, Denise Schrama, Helene Senechal, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Marcela Valverde-Monge, Marianne van Hage, Ronald van Ree, Kitty Verhoeckx, Stefan Vieths, Magnus Wickman, Josefina Zakzuk, Paolo M. Matricardi, Karin Hoffmann-Sommergruber
Summary: Since the discovery of IgE as a mediator of allergic diseases, our knowledge about its immunological mechanisms has greatly increased. Innovations in bioscience and technology have facilitated the production of well-defined molecules for component-resolved diagnosis, allowing personalized management of allergic diseases. The Molecular Allergology User's Guide 2.0 provides updated information on allergen molecules, their clinical relevance, and diagnostic algorithms, serving as a valuable resource for clinicians and scientists.
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Benjamin Kogelmann, Roman Palt, Daniel Maresch, Richard Strasser, Friedrich Altmann, Somanath Kallolimath, Lin Sun, Marc-Andre DAoust, Pierre-Olivier Lavoie, Pooja Saxena, Johannes S. S. Gach, Herta Steinkellner
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christina Sophie Hausjell, Miriam Klausberger, Wolfgang Ernst, Reingard Grabherr
Summary: The baculovirus/insect cell expression system is a versatile production platform in the biopharmaceutical industry, capable of producing high-titer complex protein assemblies. It is considered a promising option for manufacturing vaccine candidates, such as virus-like particles (VLPs). However, the co-formation of budded baculovirus during VLP production presents challenges for downstream processing.