Genes Involved in the Endoplasmic Reticulum N-Glycosylation Pathway of the Red Microalga Porphyridium sp.: A Bioinformatic Study

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Oshrat Levy-Ontman¹  Merav Fisher¹  Yoram Shotland²  Yacob Weinstein³  Yoram Tekoah¹ 

[1] Department of Biotechnology, Rager Ave., Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; E-Mails:;Department of Chemical Engineering, Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Basel/Bialik sts., Beer-Sheva 8410001, Israel; E-Mail:;Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rager Ave., Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; E-Mail:

关键词: bioinformatics;    contigs;    microalgae;    N-glycosylation;    Porphyridium sp.;    red algae;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms15022305

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

N-glycosylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications that influence protein polymorphism, including protein structures and their functions. Although this important biological process has been extensively studied in mammals, only limited knowledge exists regarding glycosylation in algae. The current research is focused on the red microalga Porphyridium sp., which is a potentially valuable source for various applications, such as skin therapy, food, and pharmaceuticals. The enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and processing of N-glycans remain undefined in this species, and the mechanism(s) of their genetic regulation is completely unknown. In this study, we describe our pioneering attempt to understand the endoplasmic reticulum N-Glycosylation pathway in Porphyridium sp., using a bioinformatic approach. Homology searches, based on sequence similarities with genes encoding proteins involved in the ER N-glycosylation pathway (including their conserved parts) were conducted using the TBLASTN function on the algae DNA scaffold contigs database. This approach led to the identification of 24 encoded-genes implicated with the ER N-glycosylation pathway in Porphyridium sp. Homologs were found for almost all known N-glycosylation protein sequences in the ER pathway of Porphyridium sp.; thus, suggesting that the ER-pathway is conserved; as it is in other organisms (animals, plants, yeasts, etc.).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland