Protein O-glycosylation checkpoint

The plant-specific family of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) is implicated with a multitude of biological functions and their O-glycan might be crucial for either ligand interactions or for crude biophysical or structural protein properties. In this research proposal, however, I propose a role of O-glycosylation of the AGP type for protein fate by introducing the concept of an O-glycosylation checkpoint. I discuss evidence for the importance of O-glycosylation for protein fate in all eukaryotes and specifically describe the case of the moderately O-glycosylated FASCICLIN-LIKE ARABINOGALACTAN PROTEIN 4 (FLA4) from Arabidopsis thaliana. FLA4 abundance and localization strongly depends on its O-glycosylation. With a set of hydroxyproline-specific galactosyl transferases FLA4 acts in a linear genetic pathway necessary for normal root growth, salt tolerance and seed coat structure. Using FLA4 as genetic paradigm for a functional O-glycoprotein, I suggest hypothetical models of where and how O-glycosylation might influence the fate of plant proteins. I propose experimental approaches to elucidate the genetic and molecular mechanisms that determine the fate of FLA4 in dependence of its O-glycosylation status. Precise definition of proline hydroxylation and -glycosylation as well as molecular identification of crucial modification sites on FLA4, the cell biological elucidation of the involved organelles and the investigation of the degradation mechanism will comprise the first example for an endogenous plant protein that is controlled by its O-glycosylation state. Forward genetic isolation and next generation sequencing-based identification of suppressors of O-glycan dependent control of FLA4 abundance will provide novel genetic components of this process. A remarkable set of signalling proteins that have not previously been considered to be O-glycosylated, potentially also contain this modification. Therefore, it is likely that the O-glycan checkpoint acts on various regulatory pathways. The outcomes of this project will provide an important contribution to our fundamental knowledge of protein glycosylation and proteostasis and might thus contribute to improved stress tolerance of crop plants and the use of plants as factories