Extracellular O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine: Its biology and relationship to human disease

The O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine(O-GlcNAc)ylation of cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins regulates basic cellular functions and is involved in the etiology of neurodegeneration and diabetes. Intracellular O-GlcNAcylation is catalyzed by a single O-GlcNAc transferase, O-GlcNAc transferase(OGT). Recently, an atypical O-GlcNAc transferase, extracellular O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine(EOGT), which is responsible for the modification of extracellular O-GlcNAc, was identified. Although both OGT and EOGT are regulated through the common hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, EOGT localizes to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and transfers GlcNAc to epidermal growth factor-like domains in an OGT-independent manner. In Drosophila, loss of Eogt gives phenotypes similar to those caused by defects in the apical extracellular matrix. Dumpy, a membrane-anchored apical extracellular matrix protein, was identified as a major O-GlcNAcylated protein, and EOGT mediates Dumpy-dependent cell adhesion. In mammals, extracellular O-GlcNAc was detected on extracellular proteins including heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2, Nell1, laminin subunit alpha-5, Pamr1, and transmembrane proteins, including Notch receptors. Although the physiological function of O-GlcNAc in mammals has not yet been elucidated, exome sequencing identified homozygous EOGT mutations in patients with Adams-Oliver syndrome, a rare congenital disorder characterized by aplasia cutis congenita and terminal transverse limb defects. This review summarizes the current knowledge of extracellular O-GlcNAc and its implications in the pathological processes in Adams-Oliver syndrome.

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase(OGT) is overexpressed and promotes O-linked protein glycosylation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The aim of this present study was to explore the expression and clinical significance of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine（O-GlcNAc） transferase（OGT） and enzymatic O-linked glycosylation（O-GlcNAcation） through the addition of O-linked-β-N-acetylglucosamine in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.OGT expression and O-GlcNAcation in 40 samples from patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was detected by immunohistochemical staining with anti-OGT antib ody and O-GlcNAc-specific antibody RL 2,respectively.The relationship between pathological and clinical factors of patients was analyzed.We found that the expression of OGT was higher in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma samples compared to the normal tissues.RL 2 antibody level was positively correlated with OGT expression,and the metastasis of lymph node,which means the level of O-GlcNAcation was high and related to the metastasis of lymph node in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.In conclusion,OGT activation is the main reason for promoting the level of O-GlcNAcation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.O-GlcNAcylation may play an important role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.