Denitrosylation of S-nitrosylated OGT is triggered in LPS-stimulated innate immune response

Opportunities for Therapeutic Modulation of O-GlcNAc

O-Linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is an essential, dynamic monosaccharide post-translational modification (PTM) found on serine and threonine residues of thousands of nucleocytoplasmic proteins. The installation and removal of O-GlcNAc is controlled by a single pair of enzymes, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA), respectively. Since its discovery four decades ago, O-GlcNAc has been found on diverse classes of proteins, playing important functional roles in many cellular processes. Dysregulation of O-GlcNAc homeostasis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of disease, including neurodegeneration, X-linked intellectual disability (XLID), cancer, diabetes, and immunological disorders. These foundational studies of O-GlcNAc in disease biology have motivated efforts to target O-GlcNAc therapeutically, with multiple clinical candidates under evaluation. In this review, we describe the characterization and biochemistry of OGT and OGA, cellular O-GlcNAc regulation, development of OGT and OGA inhibitors, O-GlcNAc in pathophysiology, clinical progress of O-GlcNAc modulators, and emerging opportunities for targeting O-GlcNAc. This comprehensive resource should motivate further study into O-GlcNAc function and inspire strategies for therapeutic modulation of O-GlcNAc.

Cardioprotective O-GlcNAc signaling is elevated in murine female hearts via enhanced O-GlcNAc transferase activity

The post-translational modification of intracellular proteins by O-linked β-GlcNAc (O-GlcNAc) has emerged as a critical regulator of cardiac function. Enhanced O-GlcNAcylation activates cytoprotective pathways in cardiac models of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury; however, the mechanisms underpinning O-GlcNAc cycling in response to I/R injury have not been comprehensively assessed. The cycling of O-GlcNAc is regulated by the collective efforts of two enzymes: O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA), which catalyze the addition and hydrolysis of O-GlcNAc, respectively. It has previously been shown that baseline heart physiology and pathophysiology are impacted by sex. Here, we hypothesized that sex differences in molecular signaling may target protein O-GlcNAcylation both basally and in ischemic hearts. To address this question, we subjected male and female WT murine hearts to ex vivo ischemia or I/R injury. We assessed hearts for protein O-GlcNAcylation, abundance of OGT, OGA, and glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (GFAT2), activity of OGT and OGA, and UDP-GlcNAc levels. Our data demonstrate elevated O-GlcNAcylation in female hearts both basally and during ischemia. We show that OGT activity was enhanced in female hearts in all treatments, suggesting a mechanism for these observations. Furthermore, we found that ischemia led to reduced O-GlcNAcylation and OGT-specific activity. Our findings provide a foundation for understanding molecular mechanisms that regulate O-GlcNAcylation in the heart and highlight the importance of sex as a significant factor when assessing key regulatory events that control O-GlcNAc cycling. These data suggest the intriguing possibility that elevated O-GlcNAcylation in females contributes to reduced ischemic susceptibility.

O-GlcNAcylation: an important post-translational modification and a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy

O-linked β-d-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is an important post-translational modification of serine or threonine residues on thousands of proteins in the nucleus and cytoplasm of all animals and plants. In eukaryotes, only two conserved enzymes are involved in this process. O-GlcNAc transferase is responsible for adding O-GlcNAc to proteins, while O-GlcNAcase is responsible for removing it. Aberrant O-GlcNAcylation is associated with a variety of human diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Numerous studies have confirmed that O-GlcNAcylation is involved in the occurrence and progression of cancers in multiple systems throughout the body. It is also involved in regulating multiple cancer hallmarks, such as metabolic reprogramming, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. In this review, we first describe the process of O-GlcNAcylation and the structure and function of O-GlcNAc cycling enzymes. In addition, we detail the occurrence of O-GlcNAc in various cancers and the role it plays. Finally, we discuss the potential of O-GlcNAc as a promising biomarker and novel therapeutic target for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Integration of O-GlcNAc into Stress Response Pathways

The modification of nuclear, mitochondrial, and cytosolic proteins by O-linked βN-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) has emerged as a dynamic and essential post-translational modification of mammalian proteins. O-GlcNAc is cycled on and off over 5000 proteins in response to diverse stimuli impacting protein function and, in turn, epigenetics and transcription, translation and proteostasis, metabolism, cell structure, and signal transduction. Environmental and physiological injury lead to complex changes in O-GlcNAcylation that impact cell and tissue survival in models of heat shock, osmotic stress, oxidative stress, and hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, as well as ischemic reperfusion injury. Numerous mechanisms that appear to underpin O-GlcNAc-mediated survival include changes in chaperone levels, impacts on the unfolded protein response and integrated stress response, improvements in mitochondrial function, and reduced protein aggregation. Here, we discuss the points at which O-GlcNAc is integrated into the cellular stress response, focusing on the roles it plays in the cardiovascular system and in neurodegeneration.

Chronically Elevated O-GlcNAcylation Limits Nitric Oxide Production and Deregulates Specific Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines

Inflammation is the immune response to harmful stimuli, including pathogens, damaged cells and toxic compounds. However, uncontrolled inflammation can be detrimental and contribute to numerous chronic inflammatory diseases, such as insulin resistance. At the forefront of this response are macrophages, which sense the local microenvironment to respond with a pro-inflammatory, M1-polarized phenotype, or anti-inflammatory, M2-polarized phenotype. M1 macrophages upregulate factors like pro-inflammatory cytokines, to promote inflammatory signaling, and inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS), to produce nitric oxide (NO). The generated NO can kill microorganisms to protect the body, but also signal back to the macrophage to limit pro-inflammatory cytokine production to maintain macrophage homeostasis. Thus, the tight regulation of iNOS in macrophages is critical for the immune system. Here, we investigated how elevation of the nutrient-sensitive posttranslational modification, O-GlcNAc, impacts M1 polarized macrophages. We identified increased gene expression of specific pro-inflammatory cytokines (Il-6, Il-1β, Il-12) when O-GlcNAc cycling was blocked. We further uncovered an interaction between O-GlcNAc and iNOS, with iNOS being an OGT target in vitro. Analysis of M1 polarized bone marrow derived macrophages deficient in the enzyme that removes O-GlcNAc, O-GlcNAcase (OGA), revealed decreased iNOS activity as measured by a reduction in NO release. Further, elevated O-GlcNAc acted on Il-6 expression through the iNOS pathway, as iNOS inhibitior L-NIL raised wildtype Il-6 expression similar to OGA deficient cells but had no further effect on the hyper-O-GlcNAcylated cells. Thus O-GlcNAc contributes to macrophage homeostasis through modulation of iNOS activity.

O-Linked β-N-Acetylglucosamine Modification: Linking Hypertension and the Immune System

The O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine modification (O-GlcNAcylation) of proteins dynamically regulates protein function, localization, stability, and interactions. This post-translational modification is intimately linked to cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. An increasing number of studies suggest that components of innate and adaptive immunity, active players in the pathophysiology of hypertension, are targets for O-GlcNAcylation. In this review, we highlight the potential roles of O-GlcNAcylation in the immune system and discuss how those immune targets of O-GlcNAcylation may contribute to arterial hypertension.

Targeting Protein O-GlcNAcylation, a Link between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Inflammatory Disease

Unresolved hyperglycaemia, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is a well characterised manifestation of altered fuel homeostasis and our understanding of its role in the pathologic activation of the inflammatory system continues to grow. Metabolic disorders like T2DM trigger changes in the regulation of key cellular processes such as cell trafficking and proliferation, and manifest as chronic inflammatory disorders with severe long-term consequences. Activation of inflammatory pathways has recently emerged as a critical link between T2DM and inflammation. A substantial body of evidence has suggested that this is due in part to increased flux through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). The HBP, a unique nutrient-sensing metabolic pathway, produces the activated amino sugar UDP-GlcNAc which is a critical substrate for protein O-GlcNAcylation, a dynamic, reversible post-translational glycosylation of serine and threonine residues in target proteins. Protein O-GlcNAcylation impacts a range of cellular processes, including inflammation, metabolism, trafficking, and cytoskeletal organisation. As increased HBP flux culminates in increased protein O-GlcNAcylation, we propose that targeting O-GlcNAcylation may be a viable therapeutic strategy for the prevention and management of glucose-dependent pathologies with inflammatory components.

Inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation protects from Shiga toxin-mediated cell injury and lethality in host

Shiga toxins (Stxs) produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are the major virulence factors responsible for hemorrhagic colitis, which can lead to life-threatening systemic complications including acute renal failure (hemolytic uremic syndrome) and neuropathy. Here, we report that O-GlcNAcylation, a type of post-translational modification, was acutely increased upon induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in host cells by Stxs. Suppression of the abnormal Stx-mediated increase in O-GlcNAcylation effectively inhibited apoptotic and inflammatory responses in Stx-susceptible cells. The protective effect of O-GlcNAc inhibition for Stx-mediated pathogenic responses was also verified using three-dimensional (3D)-cultured spheroids or organoids mimicking the human kidney. Treatment with an O-GlcNAcylation inhibitor remarkably improved the major disease symptoms and survival rate for mice intraperitoneally injected with a lethal dose of Stx. In conclusion, this study elucidates O-GlcNAcylation-dependent pathogenic mechanisms of Stxs and demonstrates that inhibition of aberrant O-GlcNAcylation is a potential approach to treat Stx-mediated diseases.

Evaluation of blood cell viability rate, gene expression, and O-GlcNAcylation profiles as indicative signatures for fungal stimulation of salmonid cell models

Fungal diseases of fish are a significant economic problem in aquaculture. Using high-throughput expression analysis, we identified potential transcript markers in primary head kidney and secondary embryonic cells from salmonid fish after stimulation with the inactivated fungi Mucor hiemalis and Fusarium aveneacium and with purified fungal molecular patterns. The transcript levels of most of the 45 selected genes were altered in head-kidney cells after 24 h of stimulation with fungal antigens. Stimulation with the inactivated fungus M. hiemalis induced the most pronounced transcriptional changes, including the pathogen receptor-encoding genes CLEC18A and TLR22, the cytokine-encoding genes IL6 and TNF, and the gene encoding the antimicrobial peptide LEAP2. In parallel, we analyzed the total GlcNAcylation status of embryonic salmonid cells with or without stimulation with inactivated fungi. O-GlcNAcylation modulates gene expression, intracellular protein, and signal activity, but we detected no significant differences after a 3-h stimulation. A pathway analysis tool identified the "apoptosis of leukocytes" based on the expression profile 24 h after fungal stimulation. Fluorescence microscopy combined with flow cytometry revealed apoptosis in 50 % of head-kidney leukocytes after 3 h stimulation with M. hiemalis, but this level decreased by > 5% after 24 h of stimulation. The number of apoptotic cells significantly increased in all blood cells after a 3-h stimulation with fungal molecular patterns compared to unstimulated controls. This in vitro approach identified transcript-based parameters that were strongly modulated by fungal infections of salmonid fish.

Understanding the role of S-nitrosylation/nitrosative stress in inflammation and the role of cellular denitrosylases in inflammation modulation: Implications in health and diseases

S-nitrosylation is a very fundamental post-translational modification of protein and non-protein thiols due the involvement of it in a variety of cellular processes including activation/inhibition of several ion channels such as ryanodine receptor in the cardiovascular system; blood vessel dilation; cGMP signaling and neurotransmission. S-nitrosothiol homeostasis in the cell is tightly regulated and perturbations in homeostasis result in an altered redox state leading to a plethora of disease conditions. However, the exact role of S-nitrosylated proteins and nitrosative stress metabolites in inflammation and in inflammation modulation is not well-reviewed. The cell utilizes its intricate defense mechanisms i.e. cellular denitrosylases such as Thioredoxin (Trx) and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) systems to combat nitric oxide (NO) pathology which has also gained current attraction as novel anti-inflammatory molecules. This review attempts to provide state-of-the-art knowledge from past and present research on the mechanistic role of nitrosative stress intermediates (RNS, OONO^-, PSNO) in pulmonary and autoimmune diseases and how cellular denitrosylases particularly GSNOR and Trx via imparting opposing effects can modulate and reduce inflammation in several health and disease conditions. This review would also bring into notice the existing gaps in current research where denitrosylases can be utilized for ameliorating inflammation that would leave avenues for future therapeutic interventions.

New Quinolinone O-GlcNAc Transferase Inhibitors Based on Fragment Growth

O-GlcNAcylation is an important post-translational and metabolic process in cells that must be carefully regulated. O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) is ubiquitously present in cells and is the only enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of O-GlcNAc to proteins. OGT is a promising target in various pathologies such as cancer, immune system diseases, or nervous impairment. In our previous work we identified the 2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-4-carboxamide derivatives as promising compounds by a fragment-based drug design approach. Herein, we report the extension of this first series with several new fragments. As the most potent fragment, we identified 3b with an IC₅₀ value of 116.0 μM. If compared with the most potent inhibitor of the first series, F20 (IC₅₀ = 117.6 μM), we can conclude that the new fragments did not improve OGT inhibition remarkably. Therefore, F20 was used as the basis for the design of a series of compounds with the elongation toward the O-GlcNAc binding pocket as the free carboxylate allows easy conjugation. Compound 6b with an IC₅₀ value of 144.5 μM showed the most potent OGT inhibition among the elongated compounds, but it loses inhibition potency when compared to the UDP mimetic F20. We therefore assume that the binding of the compounds in the O-GlcNAc binding pocket is likely not crucial for OGT inhibition. Furthermore, evaluation of the compounds with two different assays revealed that some inhibitors most likely interfere with the commercially available UDP-Glo™ glycosyltransferase assay, leading to false positive results. This observation calls for caution, when evaluating UDP mimetic as OGT inhibitors with the UDP-Glo™ glycosyltransferase assay, as misinterpretations can occur.

A sweet spot for macrophages: Focusing on polarization

Macrophages are a type of functionally plastic cells that can create a pro-/anti-inflammatory microenvironment for organs by producing different kinds of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors to regulate immunity and inflammatory responses. In addition, they can also be induced to adopt different phenotypes in response to extracellular and intracellular signals, a process defined as M1/M2 polarization. Growing evidence indicates that glycobiology is closely associated with this polarization process. In this research, we review studies of the roles of glycosylation, glucose metabolism, and key lectins in the regulation of macrophages function and polarization to provide a new perspective for immunotherapies for multiple diseases.

O-GlcNAc Transferase - An Auxiliary Factor or a Full-blown Oncogene?

The β-linked N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) is a posttranslational modification of serine and threonine residues catalyzed by the enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). Increased OGT expression is a feature of most human cancers and inhibition of OGT decreases cancer cell proliferation. Antiproliferative effects are attributed to posttranslational modifications of known regulators of cancer cell proliferation, such as MYC, FOXM1, and EZH2. In general, OGT amplifies cell-specific phenotype, for example, OGT overexpression enhances reprogramming efficiency of mouse embryonic fibroblasts into stem cells. Genome-wide screens suggest that certain cancers are particularly dependent on OGT, and understanding these addictions is important when considering OGT as a target for cancer therapy. The O-GlcNAc modification is involved in most cellular processes, which raises concerns of on-target undesirable effects of OGT-targeting therapy. Yet, emerging evidence suggest that, much like proteasome inhibitors, specific compounds targeting OGT elicit selective antiproliferative effects in cancer cells, and can prime malignant cells to other treatments. It is, therefore, essential to gain mechanistic insights on substrate specificity for OGT, develop reagents to more specifically enrich for O-GlcNAc-modified proteins, identify O-GlcNAc "readers," and develop OGT small-molecule inhibitors. Here, we review the relevance of OGT in cancer progression and the potential targeting of this metabolic enzyme as a putative oncogene.

Lipopolysaccharide Induces GFAT2 Expression to Promote O-Linked β-N-Acetylglucosaminylation and Attenuate Inflammation in Macrophages

Glycosylation with O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAcylation) is a reversible posttranslational modification that regulates the activity of intracellular proteins according to glucose availability and its metabolism through the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway. This modification has been involved in the regulation of various immune cell types, including macrophages. However, little is known concerning the mechanisms that regulate the protein O-GlcNAcylation level in these cells. In the present work, we demonstrate that LPS treatment induces a marked increase in protein O-GlcNAcylation in RAW264.7 cells, bone marrow-derived and peritoneal mouse macrophages, as well as human monocyte-derived macrophages. Targeted deletion of OGT in macrophages resulted in an increased effect of LPS on NOS2 expression and cytokine production, suggesting that O-GlcNAcylation may restrain inflammatory processes induced by LPS. The effect of LPS on protein O-GlcNAcylation in macrophages was associated with an increased expression and activity of glutamine fructose 6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT), the enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway. More specifically, we observed that LPS potently stimulated GFAT2 isoform mRNA and protein expression. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of FoxO1 impaired the LPS effect on GFAT2 expression, suggesting a FoxO1-dependent mechanism. We conclude that GFAT2 should be considered a new LPS-inducible gene involved in regulation of protein O-GlcNAcylation, which permits limited exacerbation of inflammation upon macrophage activation.

Amyloid beta regulates ER exit sites formation through O-GlcNAcylation triggered by disrupted calcium homeostasis

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Aberrant production of amyloid beta (Aβ) causes disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis, a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Calcium is required for the fusion and trafficking of vesicles. Previously, we demonstrated that Sec31A, a main component for coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles at ER exit sites (ERES), is modulated by O-GlcNAcylation. O-GlcNAcylation, a unique and dynamic protein glycosylation process, modulates the formation of COPII vesicles.

RESULTS

In this study, we observed that disrupted calcium levels affected the formation of COPII vesicles in ERES through calcium-triggered O-GlcNAcylation of Sec31A. Additionally, we found that Aβ impaired ERES through Aβ-disturbed calcium homeostasis and O-GlcNAcylation of Sec31A in neuronal cells. Furthermore, we identified that Aβ disrupted the ribbon-like structure of Golgi. Golgi fragmentation by Aβ was rescued by up-regulation of O-GlcNAcylaion levels using Thiamet G (ThiG), an O-GlcNAcase inhibitor. Additionally, we observed that the Golgi reassembly stacking proteins having a function in Golgi stacking showed attenuation at COPII vesicles following Aβ treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that Aβ impaired Sec31A targeting to ERES through altered Sec31A O-GlcNAcylation triggered by disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis.

SIGNIFICANCE

The findings of this study suggested that protection of ERES or Sec31 O-GlcNAcylation may offer a promising novel avenue for development of AD therapeutics.

OGT suppresses S6K1-mediated macrophage inflammation and metabolic disturbance

Enhanced inflammation is believed to contribute to overnutrition-induced metabolic disturbance. Nutrient flux has also been shown to be essential for immune cell activation. Here, we report an unexpected role of nutrient-sensing O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) signaling in suppressing macrophage proinflammatory activation and preventing diet-induced metabolic dysfunction. Overnutrition stimulates an increase in O-GlcNAc signaling in macrophages. O-GlcNAc signaling is down-regulated during macrophage proinflammatory activation. Suppressing O-GlcNAc signaling by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) knockout enhances macrophage proinflammatory polarization, promotes adipose tissue inflammation and lipolysis, increases lipid accumulation in peripheral tissues, and exacerbates tissue-specific and whole-body insulin resistance in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice. OGT inhibits macrophage proinflammatory activation by catalyzing ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) O-GlcNAcylation and suppressing S6K1 phosphorylation and mTORC1 signaling. These findings thus identify macrophage O-GlcNAc signaling as a homeostatic mechanism maintaining whole-body metabolism under overnutrition.

O-GlcNAcylation and its role in the immune system

O-linked-N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) is a type of glycosylation that occurs when a monosaccharide, O-GlcNAc, is added onto serine or threonine residues of nuclear or cytoplasmic proteins by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and which can be reversibly removed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). O-GlcNAcylation couples the processes of nutrient sensing, metabolism, signal transduction and transcription, and plays important roles in development, normal physiology and physiopathology. Cumulative studies have indicated that O-GlcNAcylation affects the functions of protein substrates in a number of ways, including protein cellular localization, protein stability and protein/protein interaction. Particularly, O-GlcNAcylation has been shown to have intricate crosstalk with phosphorylation as they both modify serine or threonine residues. Aberrant O-GlcNAcylation on various protein substrates has been implicated in many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and cancers. However, the role of protein O-GlcNAcylation in immune cell lineages has been less explored. This review summarizes the current understanding of the fundamental biochemistry of O-GlcNAcylation, and discusses the molecular mechanisms by which O-GlcNAcylation regulates the development, maturation and functions of immune cells. In brief, O-GlcNAcylation promotes the development, proliferation, and activation of T and B cells. O-GlcNAcylation regulates inflammatory and antiviral responses of macrophages. O-GlcNAcylation promotes the function of activated neutrophils, but inhibits the activity of nature killer cells.

O-GlcNAcylation in immunity and inflammation: An intricate system (Review)

Chronic, low‑grade inflammation associated with obesity and diabetes result from the infiltration of adipose and vascular tissue by immune cells and contributes to cardiovascular complications. Despite an incomplete understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of immune cell differentiation and inflammation, O‑GlcNAcylation, the addition of O‑linked N‑acetylglucosamine (O‑GlcNAc) to cytoplasmic, nuclear and mitochondrial proteins by the two cycling enzymes, the O‑linked N‑acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) and the O‑GlcNAcase (OGA), may contribute to fine‑tune immunity and inflammation in both physiological and pathological conditions. Early studies have indicated that O‑GlcNAcylation of proteins play a pro‑inflammatory role in diabetes and insulin resistance, whereas subsequent studies have demonstrated that this post‑translational modification could also be protective against acute injuries. These studies suggest that diverse types of insults result in dynamic changes to O‑GlcNAcylation patterns, which fluctuate with cellular metabolism to promote or inhibit inflammation. In this review, the current understanding of O‑GlcNAcylation and its adaptive modulation in immune and inflammatory responses is summarized.

Regulation of AβPP Glycosylation Modification and Roles of Glycosylation on AβPP Cleavage in Alzheimer's Disease

The presence of senile plaques in the gray matter of the brain is one of the major pathologic features of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and amyloid-β (Aβ) is the main component of extracellular deposits of the senile plaques. Aβ derives from amyloid-β precursor protein (AβPP) cleaved by β-secretase (BACE1) and γ-secretase, and the abnormal cleavage of AβPP is an important event leading to overproduction and aggregation of Aβ species. After translation, AβPP undergoes post-translational modifications (PTMs) including glycosylation and phosphorylation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, and these modifications play an important role in regulating the cleavage of this protein. In this Review, we summarize research progress on the modification of glycosylation, especially O-GlcNAcylation and mucin-type O-linked glycosylation (also known as O-GalNAcylation), on the regulation of AβPP cleavage and on the influence of AβPP's glycosylation in the pathogenesis of AD.

Critical observations that shaped our understanding of the function(s) of intracellular glycosylation (O-GlcNAc)

Almost 100 years after the first descriptions of proteins conjugated to carbohydrates (mucins), several studies suggested that glycoproteins were not restricted to the serum, extracellular matrix, cell surface, or endomembrane system. In the 1980s, key data emerged demonstrating that intracellular proteins were modified by monosaccharides of O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). Subsequently, this modification was identified on thousands of proteins that regulate cellular processes as diverse as protein aggregation, localization, post-translational modifications, activity, and interactions. In this Review, we will highlight critical discoveries that shaped our understanding of the molecular events underpinning the impact of O-GlcNAc on protein function, the role that O-GlcNAc plays in maintaining cellular homeostasis, and our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate O-GlcNAc-cycling.

Too sweet to resist: Control of immune cell function by O-GlcNAcylation

O-linked β-N-acetyl glucosamine modification (O-GlcNAcylation) is a dynamic, reversible posttranslational modification of cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins. O-GlcNAcylation depends on nutrient availability and the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP), which produces the donor substrate UDP-GlcNAc. O-GlcNAcylation is mediated by a single enzyme, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), which adds GlcNAc and another enzyme, O-GlcNAcase (OGA), which removes O-GlcNAc from proteins. O-GlcNAcylation controls vital cellular processes including transcription, translation, the cell cycle, metabolism, and cellular stress. Aberrant O-GlcNAcylation has been implicated in various pathologies including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Growing evidences indicate that O-GlcNAcylation plays crucial roles in regulating immunity and inflammatory responses, especially under hyperglycemic conditions. This review will highlight the emerging functions of O-GlcNAcylation in mammalian immunity under physiological and various pathological conditions.

Nutrient-driven O-GlcNAc in proteostasis and neurodegeneration

Proteostasis is essential in the mammalian brain where post-mitotic cells must function for decades to maintain synaptic contacts and memory. The brain is dependent on glucose and other metabolites for proper function and is spared from metabolic deficits even during starvation. In this review, we outline how the nutrient-sensitive nucleocytoplasmic post-translational modification O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) regulates protein homeostasis. The O-GlcNAc modification is highly abundant in the mammalian brain and has been linked to proteopathies, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's. C. elegans, Drosophila, and mouse models harboring O-GlcNAc transferase- and O-GlcNAcase-knockout alleles have helped define the role O-GlcNAc plays in development as well as age-associated neurodegenerative disease. These enzymes add and remove the single monosaccharide from protein serine and threonine residues, respectively. Blocking O-GlcNAc cycling is detrimental to mammalian brain development and interferes with neurogenesis, neural migration, and proteostasis. Findings in C. elegans and Drosophila model systems indicate that the dynamic turnover of O-GlcNAc is critical for maintaining levels of key transcriptional regulators responsible for neurodevelopment cell fate decisions. In addition, pathways of autophagy and proteasomal degradation depend on a transcriptional network that is also reliant on O-GlcNAc cycling. Like the quality control system in the endoplasmic reticulum which uses a 'mannose timer' to monitor protein folding, we propose that cytoplasmic proteostasis relies on an 'O-GlcNAc timer' to help regulate the lifetime and fate of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. O-GlcNAc-dependent developmental alterations impact metabolism and growth of the developing mouse embryo and persist into adulthood. Brain-selective knockout mouse models will be an important tool for understanding the role of O-GlcNAc in the physiology of the brain and its susceptibility to neurodegenerative injury.

Stress-induced O-GlcNAcylation: an adaptive process of injured cells

In the 30 years, since the discovery of nucleocytoplasmic glycosylation, O-GlcNAc has been implicated in regulating cellular processes as diverse as protein folding, localization, degradation, activity, post-translational modifications, and interactions. The cell co-ordinates these molecular events, on thousands of cellular proteins, in concert with environmental and physiological cues to fine-tune epigenetics, transcription, translation, signal transduction, cell cycle, and metabolism. The cellular stress response is no exception: diverse forms of injury result in dynamic changes to the O-GlcNAc subproteome that promote survival. In this review, we discuss the biosynthesis of O-GlcNAc, the mechanisms by which O-GlcNAc promotes cytoprotection, and the clinical significance of these data.

The Biochemistry of O-GlcNAc Transferase: Which Functions Make It Essential in Mammalian Cells?

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) is found in all metazoans and plays an important role in development but at the single-cell level is only essential in dividing mammalian cells. Postmitotic mammalian cells and cells of invertebrates such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila can survive without copies of OGT. Why OGT is required in dividing mammalian cells but not in other cells remains unknown. OGT has multiple biochemical activities. Beyond its well-known role in adding β-O-GlcNAc to serine and threonine residues of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins, OGT also acts as a protease in the maturation of the cell cycle regulator host cell factor 1 (HCF-1) and serves as an integral member of several protein complexes, many of them linked to gene expression. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the mechanisms underlying OGT's biochemical activities and address whether known functions of OGT could be related to its essential role in dividing mammalian cells.

Fatty acid synthase inhibits the O-GlcNAcase during oxidative stress

The dynamic post-translational modification O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) regulates thousands of nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial proteins. Cellular stress, including oxidative stress, results in increased O-GlcNAcylation of numerous proteins, and this increase is thought to promote cell survival. The mechanisms by which the O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and the O-GlcNAcase (OGA), the enzymes that add and remove O-GlcNAc, respectively, are regulated during oxidative stress to alter O-GlcNAcylation are not fully characterized. Here, we demonstrate that oxidative stress leads to elevated O-GlcNAc levels in U2OS cells but has little impact on the activity of OGT. In contrast, the expression and activity of OGA are enhanced. We hypothesized that this seeming paradox could be explained by proteins that bind to and control the local activity or substrate targeting of OGA, thereby resulting in the observed stress-induced elevations of O-GlcNAc. To identify potential protein partners, we utilized BioID proximity biotinylation in combination with stable isotopic labeling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC). This analysis revealed 90 OGA-interacting partners, many of which exhibited increased binding to OGA upon stress. The associations of OGA with fatty acid synthase (FAS), filamin-A, heat shock cognate 70-kDa protein, and OGT were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. The pool of OGA bound to FAS demonstrated a substantial (∼85%) reduction in specific activity, suggesting that FAS inhibits OGA. Consistent with this observation, FAS overexpression augmented stress-induced O-GlcNAcylation. Although the mechanism by which FAS sequesters OGA remains unknown, these data suggest that FAS fine-tunes the cell's response to stress and injury by remodeling cellular O-GlcNAcylation.

O-GlcNAcylation and neurodegeneration

O-GlcNAcylation is a dynamic form of protein glycosylation which involves the addition of β-d-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) via an O-linkage to serine or threonine residues of nuclear, cytoplasmic, mitochondrial and transmembrane proteins. The two enzymes responsible for O-GlcNAc cycling are O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA); their expression and activities in brain are age dependent. More than 1000 O-GlcNAc protein targets have been identified which play critical roles in many cellular processes. In mammalian brain, O-GlcNAc modification of Tau decreases its phosphorylation and toxicity, suggesting a neuroprotective role of pharmacological elevation of brain O-GlcNAc for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Other observations suggest that elevating O-GlcNAc levels may decrease protein clearance or induce apoptosis. This review highlights some of the key findings regarding O-GlcNAcylation in models of neurodegenerative diseases.

A little sugar goes a long way: the cell biology of O-GlcNAc

Unlike the complex glycans decorating the cell surface, the O-linked β-N-acetyl glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification is a simple intracellular Ser/Thr-linked monosaccharide that is important for disease-relevant signaling and enzyme regulation. O-GlcNAcylation requires uridine diphosphate-GlcNAc, a precursor responsive to nutrient status and other environmental cues. Alternative splicing of the genes encoding the O-GlcNAc cycling enzymes O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) yields isoforms targeted to discrete sites in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria. OGT and OGA also partner with cellular effectors and act in tandem with other posttranslational modifications. The enzymes of O-GlcNAc cycling act preferentially on intrinsically disordered domains of target proteins impacting transcription, metabolism, apoptosis, organelle biogenesis, and transport.

Chemical tools to explore nutrient-driven O-GlcNAc cycling

Posttranslational modifications (PTM) including glycosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation and ubiquitination dynamically alter the proteome. The evolutionarily conserved enzymes O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase are responsible for the addition and removal, respectively, of the nutrient-sensitive PTM of protein serine and threonine residues with O-GlcNAc. Indeed, the O-GlcNAc modification acts at every step in the "central dogma" of molecular biology and alters signaling pathways leading to amplified or blunted biological responses. The cellular roles of OGT and the dynamic PTM O-GlcNAc have been clarified with recently developed chemical tools including high-throughput assays, structural and mechanistic studies and potent enzyme inhibitors. These evolving chemical tools complement genetic and biochemical approaches for exposing the underlying biological information conferred by O-GlcNAc cycling.

O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase: achieving target substrate specificity

O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) catalyze the dynamic cycling of intracellular, post-translational O-GlcNAc modification on thousands of Ser/Thr residues of cytosolic, nuclear, and mitochondrial signaling proteins. The identification of O-GlcNAc modified substrates has revealed a functionally diverse set of proteins, and the extent of O-GlcNAcylation fluctuates in response to nutrients and cellular stress. As a result, OGT and OGA are implicated in widespread, nutrient-responsive regulation of numerous signaling pathways and transcriptional programs. These enzymes are required for normal embryonic development and are dysregulated in metabolic and age-related disease states. While a recent surge of interest in the field has contributed to understanding the functional impacts of protein O-GlcNAcylation, little is known about the upstream mechanisms which modulate OGT and OGA substrate targeting. This review focuses on elements of enzyme structure among splice variants, post-translational modification, localization, and regulatory protein interactions which drive the specificity of OGT and OGA toward different subsets of the cellular proteome. Ongoing efforts in this rapidly advancing field are aimed at revealing mechanisms of OGT and OGA regulation to harness the potential therapeutic benefit of manipulating these enzymes' activities.

Identification of nitric oxide as an endogenous inhibitor of 26S proteasomes in vascular endothelial cells

The 26S proteasome plays a fundamental role in almost all eukaryotic cells, including vascular endothelial cells. However, it remains largely unknown how proteasome functionality is regulated in the vasculature. Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS)-derived NO is known to be essential to maintain endothelial homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to establish the connection between endothelial NO and 26S proteasome functionality in vascular endothelial cells. The 26S proteasome reporter protein levels, 26S proteasome activity, and the O-GlcNAcylation of Rpt2, a key subunit of the proteasome regulatory complex, were assayed in 26S proteasome reporter cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and mouse aortic tissues isolated from 26S proteasome reporter and eNOS knockout mice. Like the other selective NO donors, NO derived from activated eNOS (by pharmacological and genetic approach) increased O-GlcNAc modification of Rpt2, reduced proteasome chymotrypsin-like activity, and caused 26S proteasome reporter protein accumulation. Conversely, inactivation of eNOS reversed all the effects. SiRNA knockdown of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), the key enzyme that catalyzes protein O-GlcNAcylation, abolished NO-induced effects. Consistently, adenoviral overexpression of O-GlcNAcase (OGA), the enzyme catalyzing the removal of the O-GlcNAc group, mimicked the effects of OGT knockdown. Finally, compared to eNOS wild type aortic tissues, 26S proteasome reporter mice lacking eNOS exhibited elevated 26S proteasome functionality in parallel with decreased Rpt2 O-GlcNAcylation, without changing the levels of Rpt2 protein. In conclusion, the eNOS-derived NO functions as a physiological suppressor of the 26S proteasome in vascular endothelial cells.

O-GlcNAcylation and Inflammation: A Vast Territory to Explore

O-GlcNAcylation is a reversible post-translational modification that regulates the activities of cytosolic and nuclear proteins according to glucose availability. This modification appears to participate in several hyperglycemia-associated complications. An important feature of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity is the presence of a low-grade chronic inflammation that causes numerous complications. Hyperglycemia associated with the metabolic syndrome is known to promote inflammatory processes through different mechanisms including oxidative stress and abnormally elevated protein O-GlcNAcylation. However, the role of O-GlcNAcylation on inflammation remains contradictory. O-GlcNAcylation associated with hyperglycemia has been shown to increase nuclear factor κB (NFκB) transcriptional activity through different mechanisms. This could contribute in inflammation-associated diabetic complications. However, in other conditions such as acute vascular injury, O-linked N-acetyl glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) also exerts anti-inflammatory effects via inhibition of the NFκB pathway, suggesting a complex regulation of inflammation by O-GlcNAc. Moreover, whereas macrophages and monocytes exposed to high glucose for a long-term period developed a pro-inflammatory phenotype, the impact of O-GlcNAcylation in these cells remains unclear. A future challenge will be to clearly establish the role of O-GlcNAcylation in pro- and anti-inflammatory functions in macrophages.

Chitosan oligosaccharides block LPS-induced O-GlcNAcylation of NF-κB and endothelial inflammatory response

It is known that chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) suppress LPS-induced vascular endothelial inflammatory response by mechanism involving NF-κB blockade. It remains unknown how COS inhibit NF-κB. We provided evidence both in cultured endothelial cells and mouse model supporting a new mechanism. Regardless of the endothelial cell types, the LPS-induced NF-κB-dependent inflammatory gene expression was suppressed by COS, which was associated with reduced NF-κB nucleus translocation. LPS enhanced O-GlcNAc modification of NF-κB/p65 and activated NF-κB pathway, which could be prevented either by siRNA knockdown of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) or pretreatment with COS. Inhibition of either mitogen-activated protein kinase or superoxide generation abolishes LPS-induced NF-κB O-GlcNAcylation. Consistently, aortic tissues from LPS-treated mice presented enhanced NF-κB/p65 O-GlcNAcylation in association with upregulated gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in vascular tissues; however, pre-administration of COS prevented these responses. In conclusion, COS decreased OGT-dependent O-GlcNAcylation of NF-κB and thereby attenuated LPS-induced vascular endothelial inflammatory response.

Dynamic O-GlcNAcylation and its roles in the cellular stress response and homeostasis

O-linked N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a ubiquitous and dynamic post-translational modification known to modify over 3,000 nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial eukaryotic proteins. Addition of O-GlcNAc to proteins is catalyzed by the O-GlcNAc transferase and is removed by a neutral-N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase). O-GlcNAc is thought to regulate proteins in a manner analogous to protein phosphorylation, and the cycling of this carbohydrate modification regulates many cellular functions such as the cellular stress response. Diverse forms of cellular stress and tissue injury result in enhanced O-GlcNAc modification, or O-GlcNAcylation, of numerous intracellular proteins. Stress-induced O-GlcNAcylation appears to promote cell/tissue survival by regulating a multitude of biological processes including: the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway, heat shock protein expression, calcium homeostasis, levels of reactive oxygen species, ER stress, protein stability, mitochondrial dynamics, and inflammation. Here, we will discuss the regulation of these processes by O-GlcNAc and the impact of such regulation on survival in models of ischemia reperfusion injury and trauma hemorrhage. We will also discuss the misregulation of O-GlcNAc in diseases commonly associated with the stress response, namely Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Finally, we will highlight recent advancements in the tools and technologies used to study the O-GlcNAc modification.

O-GlcNAc transferase inhibits LPS-mediated expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase through an increased interaction with mSin3A in RAW264.7 cells

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT), which catalyzes the addition of a single β-N-GlcNAc unit to target proteins, has been shown to act as a transcriptional regulator. In the current study, we discovered that OGT exerted inhibitory effects on the LPS-driven activation of NF-κB and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In response to LPS, OGT exhibited an increased interaction with the transcriptional corepressor mammalian Sin3A (mSin3A). Furthermore, mSin3A, histone deacetylase (HDAC)1, and HDAC2 displayed increased binding to the iNOS promoter in response to LPS. Treatment with GlcN, in contrast, inhibits LPS-induced inflammation and decreased LPS-mediated recruitment of OGT, mSin3A, and HDACs. LPS treatment also resulted in the hypo-O-GlcNAcylation of mSin3A, which was reversed by GlcN. When the effect of the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) on LPS- and/or GlcN-mediated iNOS protein/mRNA induction was investigated, the results revealed that TSA dose dependently enhanced iNOS expression in response to LPS and/or GlcN. In addition, histone acetyltransferases, p300, and cAMP response element-binding protein-binding protein (CBP) enhanced LPS- and/or GlcN-induced iNOS protein expression. These results collectively suggest that OGT inhibits LPS-driven NF-κB activation and subsequent iNOS transcription by modulating histone acetylation either directly or indirectly.

S-nitrosothiol transport via PEPT2 mediates biological effects of nitric oxide gas exposure in macrophages

The pharmacological effects of nitric oxide (NO) administered as a gas are dependent on the conversion to S-nitrosocysteine, and as such are largely mediated by the L-type amino-acid transporters (LATs) in several cell types. The dipeptide transporter PEPT2 has been proposed as a second route for S-nitrosothiol (SNO) transport, but this has never been demonstrated. Because NO governs important immune functions in alveolar macrophages, we exposed rat alveolar macrophages (primary and NR8383 cells) to NO gas at the air-liquid interface ± LPS stimulation in the presence of PEPT2 substrate Cys-Gly (or the LAT substrate L-Cys) ± transporter competitors. We found that SNO uptake and NO-dependent actions, such as the activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the augmentation of sGC-dependent filamentous actin (F-actin) polymerization, phagocytosis, and the inhibition of NF-κB activation, were significantly augmented by the addition of Cys-Gly in a manner dependent on PEPT2 transport. We found parallel (and greater) effects that were dependent on LAT transport. The contribution of cystine/cysteine shuttling via system x cystine transporter (xCT) to SNO uptake was relatively minor. The observed effects were unaffected by NO synthase inhibition. The NO gas treatment of alveolar macrophages increased SNO uptake, the activation of sGC, F-actin polymerization, and phagocytosis, and inhibited NF-κB activation, in a manner dependent on SNO transport via PEPT2, as well as via LAT.

O-GlcNAc processing enzymes: catalytic mechanisms, substrate specificity, and enzyme regulation

The addition of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) O-linked to serine and threonine residues of proteins is known as O-GlcNAc. This post-translational modification is found within multicellular eukaryotes on hundreds of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) installs O-GlcNAc onto target proteins and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) removes O-GlcNAc. Their combined action makes O-GlcNAc reversible and serves to regulate cellular O-GlcNAc levels. Here I review select recent literature on the catalytic mechanism of these enzymes and studies on the molecular basis by which these enzymes identify and process their substrates. Molecular level understanding of how these enzymes work, and the basis for their specificity, should aid understanding how O-GlcNAc contributes to diverse cellular processes ranging from cellular signaling through to transcriptional regulation.

Insights into O-linked N-acetylglucosamine ([0-9]O-GlcNAc) processing and dynamics through kinetic analysis of O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase activity on protein substrates

Cellular O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) levels are modulated by two enzymes: uridine diphosphate-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine:polypeptidyltransferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA). To quantitatively address the activity of these enzymes on protein substrates, we generated five structurally diverse proteins in both unmodified and O-GlcNAc-modified states. We found a remarkably invariant upper limit for k(cat)/K(m) values for human OGA (hOGA)-catalyzed processing of these modified proteins, which suggests that hOGA processing is driven by the GlcNAc moiety and is independent of the protein. Human OGT (hOGT) activity ranged more widely, by up to 15-fold, suggesting that hOGT is the senior partner in fine tuning protein O-GlcNAc levels. This was supported by the observation that K(m,app) values for UDP-GlcNAc varied considerably (from 1 μM to over 20 μM), depending on the protein substrate, suggesting that some OGT substrates will be nutrient-responsive, whereas others are constitutively modified. The ratios of k(cat)/K(m) values obtained from hOGT and hOGA kinetic studies enable a prediction of the dynamic equilibrium position of O-GlcNAc levels that can be recapitulated in vitro and suggest the relative O-GlcNAc stoichiometries of target proteins in the absence of other factors. We show that changes in the specific activities of hOGT and hOGA measured in vitro on calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase IV (CaMKIV) and its pseudophosphorylated form can account for previously reported changes in CaMKIV O-GlcNAc levels observed in cells. These studies provide kinetic evidence for the interplay between O-GlcNAc and phosphorylation on proteins and indicate that these effects can be mediated by changes in hOGT and hOGA kinetic activity.