O-GlcNAcylation and related research progress in biological function

Abstract:

The O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification (O-GlcNAcylation) is a post-translational modification that transfers N-acetylglucosamine to serine and/or threonine residues of target proteins. O-GlcNAcylation has been the research hotspot since it was first reported by Gerald Hart in the early 1980s. O-GlcNAcylation is so dynamical, inducible and active that it satisfies the prerequisites of the role of protein post-translational modification in signal transductions. In most cases, a competitive inhibition occurs between O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation due to their same modification sites in proteins, which is also called "Yin-yang" balance. O-GlcNAcylation has been proved to be associated with multiple cellular signaling pathways, including the regulation of growth, the effect on proliferation, and the response to hormone. Also, O-GlcNAcylation plays a key role in the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. Based on the above, it is of great significance to explicate the bio-function of O-GlcNAcylation in physiological and pathological processes.