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Glycans in post-Golgi apical targeting: sorting signals or structural props?
E Rodriguez-Boulan1, A Gonzalez
1Dyson Vision Institute, Depts of Ophthalmology and Cell Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, USA. boulan@mail.med.cornell.edu
Trends in Cell Biology
|July 17, 1999
Summary
N-glycans may not directly target proteins to the cell surface. Instead, N-glycans might facilitate protein interactions with sorting machinery, supporting protein sorting in epithelial cells and neurons.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Molecular biology
- Glycobiology
Background:
- A model suggests N-glycans act as apical targeting signals for proteins in epithelial cells and neurons.
- This model involves N-glycan interaction with lectin sorters in the trans-Golgi network.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss experimental data supporting an alternative hypothesis for N-glycan function in protein sorting.
- To evaluate the proposed models of N-glycan involvement in apical targeting.
Main Methods:
- Review and discussion of existing experimental observations.
- Comparative analysis of two models for N-glycan function in protein sorting.
Main Results:
- Experimental data suggest N-glycans may play a facilitative role rather than a direct targeting role.
- N-glycans might provide structural support or prevent protein aggregation, aiding interactions with sorting machinery.
Conclusions:
- The role of N-glycans in apical protein sorting requires further investigation.
- An alternative hypothesis posits N-glycans facilitate, rather than direct, protein interaction with apical sorting machinery.