O-GlcNAcylation and neurodegeneration.

O-GlcNAcylation and neurodegeneration.
Brain Res Bull. 2016 Aug 4;
Authors: Wani WY, Chatham JC, Darley-Usmar V, McMahon LL, Zhang J
Abstract
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.
PMID: 27497832 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Brain Research Bulletin - August 3, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Wani WY, Chatham JC, Darley-Usmar V, McMahon LL, Zhang J Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research