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O-GlcNAcase: Emerging Mechanism, Substrate Recognition and Small-Molecule Inhibitors
Ahmed A Elbatrawy1,2, Eun Ju Kim3, Ghilsoo Nam1,2
1Center for Neuro-Medicine Brain Science Institute, Korea Institutes of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792 (Republic of, Korea.
Abstract:
O-GlcNAcylation is the dynamic and ubiquitous post-translational glycosylation of nucleocytoplasmic proteins on serine/threonine residues; it is implicated in regulation of the cell cycle. This protein modification is mainly governed by a pair of enzymes: O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) adds the N-acetylglucosamine moiety to acceptor proteins, and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) hydrolyses the sugar moiety from protein acceptors. Irregular O-GlcNAcylation is linked to several diseases including cancer, diabetes and neurodegeneration. Recently, the discovery of small-molecule OGA inhibitors has enabled the physiological function of O-GlcNAcylation to be investigated. However, the design of highly potent and selective inhibitors faces several challenges as no full structural data of human OGA has been discovered to date. Moreover, there are a number of mechanistically similar related enzymes such as β-hexosaminidases (Hex), and the concomitant inhibition of these enzymes leads to undesirable lysosomal-storage disorders. This review highlights recent insights into the structure of human O-GlcNAcase and its isoforms. We focus on the catalytic mechanism and substrate recognition by OGA. In addition, it presents an updated overview of small-molecule OGA inhibitors, with either carbohydrate or noncarbohydrate scaffolds. We discuss inhibitor structures, binding modes, and selectivity towards the enzyme, and potential outcomes in probing O-GlcNAcylation at cellular levels.
Insights
O-GlcNAcylation regulates cell cycles but is linked to diseases. This review details human O-GlcNAcase structure and function, and explores small-molecule inhibitors for therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Glycobiology
Background:
- O-GlcNAcylation is a dynamic post-translational modification regulating nucleocytoplasmic proteins.
- This process is controlled by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA).
- Dysregulated O-GlcNAcylation is implicated in diseases like cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent structural insights into human O-GlcNAcase and its isoforms.
- To elucidate the catalytic mechanism and substrate recognition of OGA.
- To provide an updated overview of small-molecule OGA inhibitors, focusing on their structure, selectivity, and cellular applications.
Main Methods:
- Structural analysis of human O-GlcNAcase.
- Biochemical assays to study catalytic mechanism and substrate binding.
- Review of literature on small-molecule OGA inhibitors.
Main Results:
- Recent advancements in understanding human O-GlcNAcase structure and isoforms.
- Detailed insights into OGA's catalytic mechanism and substrate recognition.
- Comprehensive summary of carbohydrate and noncarbohydrate OGA inhibitors, including their binding modes and selectivity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding OGA structure is crucial for designing selective inhibitors.
- Small-molecule inhibitors offer potential for probing O-GlcNAcylation in cellular contexts.
- Targeting OGA may hold therapeutic promise for diseases linked to O-GlcNAcylation dysregulation.
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