Molecular interaction between fukutin and POMGnT1 in the glycosylation pathway of α-dystroglycan

H Xiong, K Kobayashi, M Tachikawa, H Manya… - Biochemical and …, 2006 - Elsevier
H Xiong, K Kobayashi, M Tachikawa, H Manya, S Takeda, T Chiyonobu, N Fujikake, F Wang…
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2006Elsevier
The recent identification of mutations in genes encoding demonstrated or putative
glycosyltransferases has revealed a novel mechanism for congenital muscular dystrophy.
Hypoglycosylated α-dystroglycan (α-DG) is commonly seen in Fukuyama-type congenital
muscular dystrophy (FCMD), muscle–eye–brain disease (MEB), Walker–Warburg syndrome
(WWS), and Largemyd mice. POMGnT1 and POMTs, the gene products responsible for MEB
and WWS, respectively, synthesize unique O-mannose sugar chains on α-DG. The function …
The recent identification of mutations in genes encoding demonstrated or putative glycosyltransferases has revealed a novel mechanism for congenital muscular dystrophy. Hypoglycosylated α-dystroglycan (α-DG) is commonly seen in Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), muscle–eye–brain disease (MEB), Walker–Warburg syndrome (WWS), and Largemyd mice. POMGnT1 and POMTs, the gene products responsible for MEB and WWS, respectively, synthesize unique O-mannose sugar chains on α-DG. The function of fukutin, the gene product responsible for FCMD, remains undetermined. Here we show that fukutin co-localizes with POMGnT1 in the Golgi apparatus. Direct interaction between fukutin and POMGnT1 was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and two-hybrid analyses. The transmembrane region of fukutin mediates its localization to the Golgi and participates in the interaction with POMGnT1. Y371C, a missense mutation found in FCMD, retains fukutin in the ER and also redirects POMGnT1 to the ER. Finally, we demonstrate reduced POMGnT1 enzymatic activity in transgenic knock-in mice carrying the retrotransposal insertion in the fukutin gene, the prevalent mutation in FCMD. From these findings, we propose that fukutin forms a complex with POMGnT1 and may modulate its enzymatic activity.
Elsevier