乙酰化修饰在嗜肺军团菌致病过程中的作用

乙酰化修饰是由乙酰基转移酶、去乙酰化酶介导的可逆的蛋白质翻译后修饰。其中,乙酰基转移酶将乙酰辅酶A的乙酰基团转移至底物蛋白的氨基酸残基,而乙酰基团的去除由去乙酰化酶完成。乙酰化修饰参与许多基本生物学过程的调节作用,越来越多的研究表明,蛋白质乙酰化修饰在病原菌的致病过程中具有重要作用。病原菌,如引起非典型性肺炎的嗜肺军团菌,可以通过分泌具有乙酰基转移酶活性的效应蛋白靶向宿主细胞信号通路的关键蛋白质因子,干扰宿主细胞信号通路及免疫反应。本文主要从嗜肺军团菌的致病机制、乙酰化修饰及乙酰化修饰在病原体致病过程中的调控作用进行综述,突出已知的乙酰化毒力蛋白的例子,并讨论它们如何影响与宿主的相互作用,为理解乙酰化修饰在嗜肺军团菌致病过程中的作用机制提供参考。     

综述: 糖基转移酶超家族在肿瘤转移中的作用

蛋白质的糖基化修饰主要包括N-连接糖基化、O-连接糖基化和糖基磷脂酰肌醇锚定连接．与核酸和蛋白质不同,糖链的合成过程并不遵循传统的基因信息传递的中心法则,主要由一系列催化糖苷键形成的糖基转移酶完成．异常糖基化修饰被认为与恶性肿瘤的发生发展和临床预后密切相关．研究表明,糖基转移酶的表达及其糖链结构的异常可通过调节肿瘤细胞与细胞外基质的相互作用,继而影响肿瘤转移的关键步骤,如上皮间质转化(E-钙黏着蛋白、N-钙黏着蛋白)、细胞的移动性(整合素β1和α5)、侵袭(基质金属蛋白酶MMPs)、浸润(唾液酸化Lewis抗原sLeX和sLeA)．本文主要就唾液酰基转移酶、岩藻糖基转移酶和N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶等三大糖基转移酶家族的结构和生物学功能及其在肿瘤转移中的作用作一综述,以期为肿瘤转移的预测和诊断提供新思路．     

糖基转移酶超家族在肿瘤转移中的作用

蛋白质的糖基化修饰主要包括N-连接糖基化、O-连接糖基化和糖基磷脂酰肌醇锚定连接.与核酸和蛋白质不同,糖链的合成过程并不遵循传统的基因信息传递的中心法则,主要由一系列催化糖苷键形成的糖基转移酶完成.异常糖基化修饰被认为与恶性肿瘤的发生发展和临床预后密切相关.研究表明,糖基转移酶的表达及其糖链结构的异常可通过调节肿瘤细胞与细胞外基质的相互作用,继而影响肿瘤转移的关键步骤,如上皮间质转化(E-钙黏着蛋白、N-钙黏着蛋白)、细胞的移动性(整合素β1和α5)、侵袭(基质金属蛋白酶MMPs)、浸润(唾液酸化Lewis抗原sLeX和sLeA).本文主要就唾液酰基转移酶、岩藻糖基转移酶和N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶等三大糖基转移酶家族的结构和生物学功能及其在肿瘤转移中的作用作一综述,以期为肿瘤转移的预测和诊断提供新思路.     

细胞代谢过程中的酶促糖基化及其功能

细胞代谢过程中多样的生化修饰反应能够精细调控细胞的活力与功能。其中,酶促糖基化是细胞代谢调控过程中普遍存在的一种分子修饰,对维持和调节细胞功能具有重要影响。糖基转移酶通过将糖基供体的糖基转移至相应的受体分子来实现糖基化修饰。受体分子经过糖基化修饰会改变其在细胞内的稳定性、溶解性和区域定位等特性,并在调节细胞周期、信号转导、蛋白质表达调控、应答反应和清除细胞异物等诸多生物过程中起着重要作用。简要介绍了细胞代谢过程中糖基转移酶超家族的分类、命名和催化机制。重点阐述细胞中蛋白质类生物大分子和小分子化合物的糖基化反应及其在细胞代谢过程中的功能。展望了细胞中糖基化反应及糖基转移酶在人类健康、医药产品、工业催化、食品和农业等领域的应用前景。     

酵母Dop1及其同源蛋白DOPEY对细胞糖基化和囊泡运输影响的研究

蛋白质糖基化是一种保守的翻译后修饰,对多种细胞现象至关重要。在酵母或动物细胞高尔基体中的糖链处理由结构相似的糖基转移酶或糖苷酶催化。囊泡运输等多种因素会影响糖基转移酶在高尔基体中的稳态定位,进而影响糖基化。该研究探讨高尔基外周蛋白Dop1对细胞糖基化和囊泡运输的影响。共聚焦荧光显微镜活细胞成像显示,Dop1主要定位于晚期高尔基体。Dop1及其相互作用蛋白Neo1(P4 ATPase)均参与高尔基体后期的囊泡运输。此外,Dop1介导糖基转移酶Och1的逆向运输而影响糖基化。进一步,哺乳动物DOPEY1和DOPEY2是酵母Dop1的同源蛋白。DOPEY1或DOPEY2的缺失导致高尔基体结构的改变,轻微地影响细胞糖基化。综上,酵母Dop1和哺乳动物DOPEY都参与了细胞后期的蛋白质囊泡运输,并影响高尔基体形态或糖基化。     

病原菌效应蛋白翻译后修饰宿主免疫防御通路

病原菌效应蛋白破坏宿主细胞的正常信号转导是病原菌和宿主相互作用的重要体现.效应蛋白往往具有独特的生化活性,针对宿主细胞内与抗细菌感染相关的重要通路进行阻断.近年来,在病原菌效应蛋白作用机制的研究中,人们发现了几种由效应蛋白介导的全新的蛋白质翻译后修饰.OspF(outer Shigella protein F)效应蛋白家族具有磷酸化苏氨酸裂合酶活性,通过"消去"修饰和失活宿主MAPK激酶.NleE(non-LEE encoded effector E)效应蛋白则通过半胱氨酸甲基化修饰来抑制感染诱导NF-κB炎症通路的激活.NleB(non-LEEencoded effectorB)蛋白抑制宿主的死亡信号通路,则依赖于其N-乙酰葡萄糖胺转移酶活性介导的对死亡结构域蛋白的精氨酸糖基化修饰.而VopS(Vibrio outer protein S)和IbpA(Immunoglobulin-binding protein A)等含有Fic结构域的蛋白,则可以将AMP基团转移到Rho家族小G蛋白的保守苏氨酸或酪氨酸上,导致小G蛋白的失活和肌动蛋白细胞骨架的紊乱,从而引起细胞毒性.以上效应蛋白作用机制及生化活性的阐明,有助于全方位了解病原菌的致病毒力机制,也开辟了蛋白质翻译后修饰介导病原-宿主相互作用研究的新方向,同时对真核生物的信号转导研究也具有重要指导意义.     

提高糖基化的酶蛋白可结晶性研究

糖基化修饰是一类重要的翻译后修饰,对蛋白质的表达调控、折叠、分泌和功能等方面发挥着关键作用。酶是由活细胞产生的具有高度特异性和高效催化性的生物催化剂,酶的糖基化修饰对其生物催化特性和稳定性具有重要影响。研究糖基化修饰对酶蛋白的影响机制需要获取糖基化酶蛋白的结构,X-射线晶体衍射学是获得结构信息的重要技术手段,在糖基化酶蛋白的晶体衍射研究中,复杂、多样、不均一的糖基化修饰限制了该类酶的晶体生长,这是影响糖基化的酶蛋白结构解析的关键瓶颈问题。因此,如何提高糖基化的酶蛋白可结晶性是当前蛋白质结构研究的热点和难点。糖苷酶的去糖基处理、糖基转移酶抑制剂的引入和异源表达体系优化等手段都是当前研究领域提高糖基化的酶蛋白可结晶性的重要策略,这些手段可以在避免损害糖基化的酶蛋白稳定性和催化活性的同时提高其均一性。     

嗜肺军团菌效应蛋白之间的调控机制

嗜肺军团菌(Legionella pneumophila)是一种革兰氏阴性致病菌,它可以引起人类军团病。嗜肺军团菌的Dot/Icm分泌系统在其致病过程中至关重要,其向宿主细胞内转运约330种效应蛋白,通过修饰细胞调节因子、抑制细胞凋亡等一系列措施操纵宿主细胞的多种生命活动,以完成自身的增殖与侵染。为避免对宿主生理造成不必要的破坏,嗜肺军团菌已进化出复杂而精细的调控机制来平衡嗜肺军团菌毒力与宿主细胞的稳态,以确保嗜肺军团菌在宿主细胞内的生存。军团菌效应蛋白的功能及分子机制的研究近几年取得突破性进展,嗜肺军团菌效应蛋白之间的作用机理也成为我们进一步研究的热点。该文主要对嗜肺军团菌的致病机制及其效应蛋白间的调控机制进行了综述,为进一步了解嗜肺军团菌致病机制提供了一定的参考。     

提高糖基化的酶蛋白可结晶性研究 *

糖基化修饰是一类重要的翻译后修饰,对蛋白质的表达调控,折叠,分泌和功能等方面发挥着关键作用.酶是由活细胞产生的具有高度特异性和高效催化性的生物催化剂,酶的糖基化修饰对其生物催化特性和稳定性具有重要影响.研究糖基化修饰对酶蛋白的影响机制需要获取糖基化酶蛋白的结构,X-射线晶体衍射学是获得结构信息的重要技术手段,在糖基化酶蛋白的晶体衍射研究中,复杂,多样,不均一的糖基化修饰限制了该类酶的晶体生长,这是影响糖基化的酶蛋白结构解析的关键瓶颈问题.因此,如何提高糖基化的酶蛋白可结晶性是当前蛋白质结构研究的热点和难点.糖苷酶的去糖基处理,糖基转移酶抑制剂的引入和异源表达体系优化等手段都是当前研究领域提高糖基化的酶蛋白可结晶性的重要策略,这些手段可以在避免损害糖基化的酶蛋白稳定性和催化活性的同时提高其均一性.     

疾病及发育中多肽:N-乙酰氨基半乳糖转移酶ppGalNAc-T的重要性

蛋白质的O-GalNAc糖基化是生物体内广泛存在的一种重要的蛋白质翻译后修饰,参与了众多生命活动过程。多肽:N-乙酰氨基半乳糖转移酶(ppGalNAc-T酶)是调控蛋白质O-GalNAc糖基化修饰的起始糖基转移酶,它催化N-乙酰氨基半乳糖(GalNAc)共价结合到蛋白质丝氨酸或苏氨酸的侧链羟基上,形成Tn糖链抗原结构。人体内ppGalNAc-T酶家族共有20个成员,各成员在不同的组织和细胞中的表达具有时空特异性,同时对其修饰的底物蛋白存在选择性。ppGalNAc-T酶的异常表达与组织器官发育,以及肿瘤、家族性钙质沉积、冠心病、阿尔兹海默症、先天性心脏病等复杂性疾病的发生发展密切相关。该文总结了近年来关于ppGalNAc-T酶在组织器官发育过程以及复杂性疾病发生发展中的研究概况,为深入理解ppGalNAc-T酶及O-糖基化的功能及其生物学意义提供参考。     

Three monophyletic superfamilies account for the majority of the known glycosyltransferases

Sixty-five families of glycosyltransferases (EC 2.4.x.y) have been recognized on the basis of high-sequence similarity to a founding member with experimentally demonstrated enzymatic activity. Although distant sequence relationships between some of these families have been reported, the natural history of glycosyltransferases is poorly understood. We used iterative searches of sequence databases, motif extraction, structural comparison, and analysis of completely sequenced genomes to track the origins of modern-type glycosyltransferases. We show that >75% of recognized glycosyltransferase families belong to one of only three monophyletic superfamilies of proteins, namely, (1) a recently described GPGTF/GT-B superfamily; (2) a nucleoside-diphosphosugar transferase (GT-A) superfamily, which is characterized by a DxD sequence signature and also includes nucleotidyltransferases; and (3) a GT-C superfamily of integral membrane glycosyltransferases with a modified DxD signature in the first extracellular loop. Several developmental regulators in Metazoans, including Fringe and Egghead homologs, belong to the second superfamily. Interestingly, Tout-velu/Exostosin family of developmental proteins found in all multicellular eukaryotes, contains separate domains belonging to the first and the second superfamilies, explaining multiple glycosyltransferase activities in one protein.     

NleB/SseKs ortholog effectors as a general bacterial monoglycosyltransferase for eukaryotic proteins

Protein glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification as more than 50% of all human proteins are glycosylated. Pathogenic bacteria glycosylation allows adhesion to host cells and manipulates eukaryotic functions. A variety of acceptor proteins in bacterial glycosylation was recently discovered. Especially NleB/SseKs type III effectors unexpectedly glycosylate a poor nucleophile arginine. Other pathogenic toxins modify the unusual tyrosine, as well as canonical serine/threonine residues. And a huge diversity is found in target proteins; Rho/Ras families, death domains and moreover themselves for autoglycosylation. However, in spite of this acceptor diversity, all their sugar donors are only UDP-Glc/-GlcNAc and structural alignments as liganded show their catalytic cores are geometrically conserved, where DRY and DXD motives and W residues equally position to hold the sugar donors and to π-π bind with a uridine ring, respectively. Therefore, bacterial glycosyltransferases have a key for carbohydrate research problems concerning the sugar donors and target proteins recognition.     

X-ray crystal structure of leukocyte type core 2 beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase. Evidence for a convergence of metal ion-independent glycosyltransferase mechanism

Leukocyte type core 2 beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C2GnT-L) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of branched O-glycans. It is an inverting, metal ion-independent family 14 glycosyltransferase that catalyzes the formation of the core 2 O-glycan (Galbeta1-3[GlcNAcbeta1-6]GalNAc-O-Ser/Thr) from its donor and acceptor substrates, UDP-GlcNAc and the core 1 O-glycan (Galbeta1-3GalNAc-O-Ser/Thr), respectively. Reported here are the x-ray crystal structures of murine C2GnT-L in the absence and presence of the acceptor substrate Galbeta1-3GalNAc at 2.0 and 2.7A resolution, respectively. C2GnT-L was found to possess the GT-A fold; however, it lacks the characteristic metal ion binding DXD motif. The Galbeta1-3GalNAc complex defines the determinants of acceptor substrate binding and shows that Glu-320 corresponds to the structurally conserved catalytic base found in other inverting GT-A fold glycosyltransferases. Comparison of the C2GnT-L structure with that of other GT-A fold glycosyltransferases further suggests that Arg-378 and Lys-401 serve to electrostatically stabilize the nucleoside diphosphate leaving group, a role normally played by metal ion in GT-A structures. The use of basic amino acid side chains in this way is strikingly similar to that seen in a number of metal ion-independent GT-B fold glycosyltransferases and suggests a convergence of catalytic mechanism shared by both GT-A and GT-B fold glycosyltransferases.     

Recognition of fold and sugar linkage for glycosyltransferases by multivariate sequence analysis

Glycosyltransferases (GTs) are among the largest groups of enzymes found and are usually classified on the basis of sequence comparisons into many families of varying similarity (CAZy systematics). Only two different Rossman-like folds have been detected (GT-A and GT-B) within the small number of established crystal structures. A third uncharacterized fold has been indicated with transmembrane organization (GT-C). We here use a method based on multivariate data analyses (MVDAs) of property patterns in amino acid sequences and can with high accuracy recognize the correct fold in a large data set of GTs. Likewise, a retaining or inverting enzymatic mechanism for attachment of the donor sugar could be properly revealed in the GT-A and GT-B fold group sequences by such analyses. Sequence alignments could be correlated to important variables in MVDA, and the separating amino acid positions could be mapped over the active sites. These seem to be localized to similar positions in space for the alpha/beta/alpha binding motifs in the GT-B fold group structures. Analogous, active-site sequence positions were found for the GT-A fold group. Multivariate property patterns could also easily group most GTs annotated in the genomes of Escherichia coli and Synechocystis to proper fold or organization group, according to benchmarking comparisons at the MetaServer. We conclude that the sequence property patterns revealed by the multivariate analyses seem more conserved than amino acid types for these GT groups, and these patterns are also conserved in the structures. Such patterns may also potentially define substrate preferences.     

Fold recognition analysis of glycosyltransferase families: further members of structural superfamilies

Glycosyltransferases (GTs) are diverse enzymes organized into 65 families. X-ray crystallography and in silico studies have shown many of these to belong to two structural superfamilies: GT-A and GT-B. Through application of fold recognition and iterated sequence searches, we demonstrate that families 60, 62, and 64 may also be grouped into the GT-A fold superfamily. Analysis of conserved acidic residues suggests that catalytic sites are better conserved in superfamily GT-B than in GT-A. Although 26% and 29% of GT families may now be confidently placed in superfamilies GT-A and GT-B, respectively, the remaining 45% of families bear no discernible resemblance to either superfamily, which, given the sensitivity of modern fold recognition methods, suggests the existence of novel structural scaffolds associated with GT activity. Furthermore, bioinformatics studies indicate the apparent ease with which mechanism-inverting or retaining-may change during evolution.     

Structural and mechanistic characterization of leukocyte-type core 2 β1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase: a metal-ion-independent GT-A glycosyltransferase

Leukocyte-type core 2 β1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C2GnT-L) is an inverting, metal-ion-independent glycosyltransferase that catalyzes the formation of mucin-type core 2 O-glycans. C2GnT-L belongs to the GT-A fold, yet it lacks the metal ion binding DXD motif characteristic of other nucleoside disphosphate GT-A fold glycosyltransferases. To shed light on the basis for its metal ion independence, we have solved the X-ray crystal structure (2.3 Å resolution) of a mutant form of C2GnT-L (C217S) in complex with the nucleotide sugar product UDP and, using site-directed mutagenesis, examined the roles of R378 and K401 in both substrate binding and catalysis. The structure shows that C2GnT-L exists in an “open” conformation and a “closed” conformation and that, in the latter, R378 and K401 interact with the β-phosphate moiety of the bound UDP. The two conformations are likely to be important in catalysis, but the conformational changes that lead to their interconversion do not resemble the nucleotide-sugar-mediated loop ordering observed in other GT-A glycosyltransferases. R378 and K401 were found to be important in substrate binding and/or catalysis, an observation consistent with the suggestion that they serve the same role played by metal ion in all of the other GT-A glycosyltransferases studied to date. Notably, R378 and K401 appear to function in a manner similar to that of the arginine and lysine residues contained in the RX_4-5K motif found in the retaining GT-B glycosyltransferases.     

鄱阳湖湿地土壤微生物群落结构沿地下水位梯度分异特征

为了揭示地下水位梯度对湿地土壤微生物群落的影响,在鄱阳湖典型碟形湖泊白沙湖洲滩湿地设置了200m×300m大样地,沿地下水位梯度划分4个样带(从湖岸到湖心依次为GT-A,GT-B,GT-C,GT-D),采集了不同梯度带的土壤样品,利用磷脂脂肪酸法分析其土壤微生物群落结构分异特征。结果表明,随着地下水位抬升,土壤pH和沙粒含量升高,而有机碳、容重、粘粒和粉粒含量降低。与地下水位最低的梯度(GT-A)相比,地下水位在地表上下波动(GT-D)时,土壤微生物量碳氮及其分配比例分别增加了2.82、4.30、5.77和7.15倍;土壤微生物总量、细菌生物量、放线菌生物量、革兰氏阳性细菌及革兰氏阴性细菌生物量分别增长了106.8%、117.2%、74.9%,107.9%和207.2%。洲滩地下水位梯度的升高增加了土壤微生物群落的环境压力,进而降低了其群落结构的多样性。土壤微生物群落结构组成与土壤pH、含水量、沙粒含量以及碳氮比呈显著相关关系,而土壤微生物商则主要受pH和土壤质地的影响。以上结果表明地下水位梯度所引起的土壤微环境变化对微生物量、土壤有机碳周转和群落结构均产生了深刻影响。     

Novel Staphylococcal Glycosyltransferases SdgA and SdgB Mediate Immunogenicity and Protection of Virulence-Associated Cell Wall Proteins

Infection of host tissues by Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis requires an unusual family of staphylococcal adhesive proteins that contain long stretches of serine-aspartate dipeptide-repeats (SDR). The prototype member of this family is clumping factor A (ClfA), a key virulence factor that mediates adhesion to host tissues by binding to extracellular matrix proteins such as fibrinogen. However, the biological siginificance of the SDR-domain and its implication for pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Here, we identified two novel bacterial glycosyltransferases, SdgA and SdgB, which modify all SDR-proteins in these two bacterial species. Genetic and biochemical data demonstrated that these two glycosyltransferases directly bind and covalently link N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) moieties to the SDR-domain in a step-wise manner, with SdgB appending the sugar residues proximal to the target Ser-Asp repeats, followed by additional modification by SdgA. GlcNAc-modification of SDR-proteins by SdgB creates an immunodominant epitope for highly opsonic human antibodies, which represent up to 1% of total human IgG. Deletion of these glycosyltransferases renders SDR-proteins vulnerable to proteolysis by human neutrophil-derived cathepsin G. Thus, SdgA and SdgB glycosylate staphylococcal SDR-proteins, which protects them against host proteolytic activity, and yet generates major eptopes for the human anti-staphylococcal antibody response, which may represent an ongoing competition between host and pathogen.     

Crystal structure of vancosaminyltransferase GtfD from the vancomycin biosynthetic pathway: interactions with acceptor and nucleotide ligands

The TDP-vancosaminyltransferase GtfD catalyzes the attachment of L-vancosamine to a monoglucosylated heptapeptide intermediate during the final stage of vancomycin biosynthesis. Glycosyltransferases from this and similar antibiotic pathways are potential tools for the design of new compounds that are effective against vancomycin resistant bacterial strains. We have determined the X-ray crystal structure of GtfD as a complex with TDP and the natural glycopeptide substrate at 2.0 A resolution. GtfD, a member of the bidomain GT-B glycosyltransferase superfamily, binds TDP in the interdomain cleft, while the aglycone acceptor binds in a deep crevice in the N-terminal domain. However, the two domains are more interdependent in terms of substrate binding and overall structure than was evident in the structures of closely related glycosyltransferases GtfA and GtfB. Structural and kinetic analyses support the identification of Asp13 as a catalytic general base, with a possible secondary role for Thr10. Several residues have also been identified as being involved in donor sugar binding and recognition.     

Crystal Structure of a Virus-Encoded Putative Glycosyltransferase

The chloroviruses (family Phycodnaviridae), unlike most viruses, encode some, if not most, of the enzymes involved in the glycosylation of their structural proteins. Annotation of the gene product B736L from chlorovirus NY-2A suggests that it is a glycosyltransferase. The structure of the recombinantly expressed B736L protein was determined by X-ray crystallography to 2.3-Å resolution, and the protein was shown to have two nucleotide-binding folds like other glycosyltransferase type B enzymes. This is the second structure of a chlorovirus-encoded glycosyltransferase and the first structure of a chlorovirus type B enzyme to be determined. B736L is a retaining enzyme and belongs to glycosyltransferase family 4. The donor substrate was identified as GDP-mannose by isothermal titration calorimetry and was shown to bind into the cleft between the two domains in the protein. The active form of the enzyme is probably a dimer in which the active centers are separated by about 40 Å.Glycosyltransferases constitute a large family of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of sugar moieties from donor molecules to specific acceptor molecules. Unlike other enzyme families that usually share conserved features in their primary sequences, glycosyltransferases can have highly diversified sequences that have been grouped into more than 90 families (designated GTn, where n = 1, 2, …) (http://www.CAZy.org) (1, 15). However, two families, GT2 and GT4, account for about half of the total number of glycosyltransferases. Despite the large variation in the primary sequences of glycosyltransferases, their three-dimensional structures are usually conserved. There are two major glycosyltransferase structural types, named GT-A and GT-B. The GT-A members contain a single nucleotide-binding domain consisting of six parallel β-strands flanked by connecting α-helices (referred to as a “Rossmann fold” in most of the literature on these enzymes and herein). GT-A enzyme activities are usually metal ion dependent. The GT-B type glycosyltransferases have two Rossmann folds separated by a cleft that forms the substrate-binding site. Metal ions are normally not required for GT-B function. Based on their catalytic mechanism, glycosyltransferases are also classified as either retaining or inverting enzymes depending on the geometry between the sugar donor and the receptor in the product molecule (e.g., depending on whether the anomeric carbon atom is linked to the acceptor via its α or β position). If the anomeric carbon atom has the same configuration in the donor and in the product, the enzyme is classified as a retaining enzyme; if the configurations are different, the enzyme is considered to be an inverting enzyme (2).Many viruses, especially those that infect eukaryotic cells, have extensively glycosylated structural proteins. Glycans coating viral structural proteins serve multiple biological roles, e.g., they mimic host glycans to evade host cell immune reactions, aid in folding or assembly of viral structural proteins, function as a receptor recognized by cell surface proteins, or aid in stabilizing viral particles (see, e.g., reference 36).Typically, viruses use host-encoded glycosyltransferases and glycosidases located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus to add and remove N-linked sugar residues from virus glycoproteins either during or shortly after translation of the protein. This posttranslational processing aids in protein folding and requires other host-encoded enzymes. After folding and assembly, virus glycoproteins are transported by host-sorting and membrane transport functions to virus-specified regions in host membranes, where they displace host glycoproteins. Progeny viruses then bud through these virus-specific target membranes, in what is usually the final step in the assembly of infectious virions (3, 14, 21, 36). Thus, nascent viruses become infectious only by budding through the target membrane, usually the plasma membrane, as they are released from the cell. Consequently, the glycan portion of virus glycoproteins is host specific. The theme that emerges is that virus glycoproteins are synthesized and glycosylated by the same mechanisms as host glycoproteins. Therefore, the only way to alter glycosylation of virus proteins is to either grow the virus in a different host or have a mutation in the virus protein that alters the protein glycosylation site.One explanation for this scenario is that, in general, viruses lack genes encoding glycosyltransferases. However, a few virus-encoded glycosyltransferases have been reported in recent years (see reference 17 for a review). Often these virus-encoded glycosyltransferases add sugars to compounds other than proteins. For instance, some phage-encoded glycosyltransferases modify virus DNA to protect it from host restriction endonucleases (see, e.g., reference 10), and a glycosyltransferase encoded by baculoviruses modifies a host insect ecdysteroid hormone, leading to its inactivation (22). Bovine herpesvirus 4 encodes a β-1,6-N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferase that is localized in the Golgi apparatus and is probably involved in posttranslational modification of the virus structural proteins (32).One group of viruses differs from the scenario that viruses use the host machinery located in the ER and the Golgi apparatus to glycosylate their glycoproteins. These viruses are the large, plaque-forming, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)-containing chloroviruses (family Phycodnaviridae) that infect eukaryotic algae (4, 34, 39, 40). The chloroviruses have up to 400 protein-encoding genes (or coding sequences [CDSs]). Annotation of six chlorovirus genomes showed that each virus encodes 3 to 6 putative glycosyltransferases (7-9, 16, 33). Three of these viruses, NY-2A, AR158, and the prototype chlorovirus Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus 1 (PBCV-1), infect Chlorella strain NC64A. Two of the viruses, MT325 and FR483, infect Chlorella Pbi, and one of them, Acanthocystis turfacea chlorella virus (ATCV-1), infects Chlorella SAG 3.83.Glycosylation of the PBCV-1 major capsid protein, Vp54, is at least partially performed by the viral glycosyltransferases (11, 20, 33, 38, 41). PBCV-1 encodes 5 putative glycosyltransferases. A previous structural study established that the N-terminal 211 amino acids of the A64R protein from PBCV-1 form a GT-A group glycosyltransferase that is a retaining enzyme belonging to the GT34 family and that UDP-glucose possibly serves as the donor sugar (41).Among the four additional PBCV-1 glycosyltransferase-encoding genes, gene a546l encodes a 396-amino-acid protein that resembles members in the GT4 family of glycosyltransferases, based on amino acid sequence comparison of members in the CAZy classification (1, 15). Homologs of this protein, A546L, are encoded by 3 other chloroviruses, NY-2A, AR158, and ATCV-1. Here, we report the crystal structure of one of these homologs, B736L, at 2.3-Å resolution.