Publication Date:
2015-11-06
Description:
N -Glycosylation is an important post-translational modification in most secreted and membrane-bound proteins in eukaryotic cells. However, the insect N -glycosylation pathway and the potentials contributing to the N -glycan synthesis are still unclear because most of the studies on these subjects have focused on mammals and plants. Here, we identified Bombyx mori sialyltransferase (BmST), which is a Golgi-localized glycosyltransferase and which can modify N -glycans. BmST was ubiquitously expressed in different organs and in various stages of development and localized at the Golgi. Biochemical analysis using Sf9-expressed BmST revealed that BmST encoded α2,6-sialyltransferase and transferred N -acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) to the nonreducing terminus of Galβ1-R, but exhibited the highest activity toward GalNAcβ1,4-GlcNAc-R. Unlike human α2,6-sialyltransferase, BmST required the post-translational modification, especially N -glycosylation, for its full activity. N -Glycoprotein analysis of B. mori fifth instar larvae revealed that high-mannose-type structure was predominant and GlcNAc-linked and fucosylated structures were observed but endogenous galactosyl-, N -acetylgalactosaminyl- and sialyl- N -glycoproteins were undetectable under the standard analytical approach. These results indicate that B. mori genome encodes an α2,6-sialyltransferase, but further investigations of the sialylation potentials are necessary.
Print ISSN:
0959-6658
Electronic ISSN:
1460-2423
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
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