Probing the dynamics of O-GlcNAc glycosylation in the brain using quantitative proteomics

Nat Chem Biol. 2007 Jun;3(6):339-48. doi: 10.1038/nchembio881. Epub 2007 May 13.

Abstract

The addition of the monosaccharide beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine to proteins (O-GlcNAc glycosylation) is an intracellular, post-translational modification that shares features with phosphorylation. Understanding the cellular mechanisms and signaling pathways that regulate O-GlcNAc glycosylation has been challenging because of the difficulty of detecting and quantifying the modification. Here, we describe a new strategy for monitoring the dynamics of O-GlcNAc glycosylation using quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Our method, which we have termed quantitative isotopic and chemoenzymatic tagging (QUIC-Tag), combines selective, chemoenzymatic tagging of O-GlcNAc proteins with an efficient isotopic labeling strategy. Using the method, we detect changes in O-GlcNAc glycosylation on several proteins involved in the regulation of transcription and mRNA translocation. We also provide the first evidence that O-GlcNAc glycosylation is dynamically modulated by excitatory stimulation of the brain in vivo. Finally, we use electron-transfer dissociation mass spectrometry to identify exact sites of O-GlcNAc modification. Together, our studies suggest that O-GlcNAc glycosylation occurs reversibly in neurons and, akin to phosphorylation, may have important roles in mediating the communication between neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / chemistry
  • Acetylglucosamine / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Carbohydrate Conformation
  • Glycoproteins / biosynthesis*
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycosylation
  • Kinetics
  • Mammals
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Proteome*

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Proteome
  • Acetylglucosamine

Associated data

  • PubChem-Substance/24430797
  • PubChem-Substance/24430798
  • PubChem-Substance/24430799