Protein O-mannosyltransferases associate with the translocon to modify translocating polypeptide chains.

O-Mannosylation and N-glycosylation are essential protein modifications that are initiated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Protein translocation across the ER membrane and N-glycosylation are highly coordinated processes that take place at the translocon-oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) complex. In analogy, it was assumed that protein O-mannosyltransferases (PMTs) also act at the translocon, however, in recent years it turned out that prolonged ER residence allows O-mannosylation of un-/misfolded proteins or slow folding intermediates by Pmt1-Pmt2 complexes. Here, we reinvestigate protein O-mannosylation in the context of protein translocation. We demonstrate the association of Pmt1-Pmt2 with the OST, the trimeric Sec61, and the tetrameric Sec63 complex in vivo by co-immunoprecipitation. The coordinated interplay between PMTs and OST in vivo is further shown by a comprehensive mass spectrometry-based analysis of N-glycosylation site occupancy in pmtΔ mutants. In addition, we established a microsomal translation/translocation/O-mannosylation system. Using the serine/threonine-rich cell wall protein Ccw5 as a model, we show that PMTs efficiently mannosylate proteins during their translocation into microsomes. This in vitro system will help to unravel mechanistic differences between co- and post-translocational O-mannosylation.

Photoaffinity labeling of protein O-mannosyltransferases of the PMT1/PMT2 subfamily.

Protein O-mannosylation is initiated at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by dolichyl phosphate-mannose: protein O-mannosyltransferases (PMTs). PMTs are members of the glycosyltransferase (GT) C superfamily. They are large polytopic integral membrane proteins located in the ER membrane. PMTs utilize dolichyl phosphate--activated mannose as sugar donor. Glycosyltransfer of mannose to serine and threonine residues of nascent polypeptides leads to an inversion of the stereochemistry of the glycosidic bond. Here, we describe photoaffinity labeling of yeast Pmt1p using a photo-reactive probe that is based on the artificial mannosyl acceptor peptide YATAV. Due to the high homology of PMTs, this method can also be applied to study PMT1 and PMT2 subfamily members from fungi other than baker's yeast.