Structure of the yeast oligosaccharyltransferase complex gives insight into eukaryotic N-glycosylation

R Wild, J Kowal, J Eyring, EM Ngwa, M Aebi… - Science, 2018 - science.org
R Wild, J Kowal, J Eyring, EM Ngwa, M Aebi, KP Locher
Science, 2018science.org
Oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) is an essential membrane protein complex in the
endoplasmic reticulum, where it transfers an oligosaccharide from a dolichol-pyrophosphate–
activated donor to glycosylation sites of secretory proteins. Here we describe the atomic
structure of yeast OST determined by cryo–electron microscopy, revealing a conserved
subunit arrangement. The active site of the catalytic STT3 subunit points away from the
center of the complex, allowing unhindered access to substrates. The dolichol …
Oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) is an essential membrane protein complex in the endoplasmic reticulum, where it transfers an oligosaccharide from a dolichol-pyrophosphate–activated donor to glycosylation sites of secretory proteins. Here we describe the atomic structure of yeast OST determined by cryo–electron microscopy, revealing a conserved subunit arrangement. The active site of the catalytic STT3 subunit points away from the center of the complex, allowing unhindered access to substrates. The dolichol-pyrophosphate moiety binds to a lipid-exposed groove of STT3, whereas two noncatalytic subunits and an ordered N-glycan form a membrane-proximal pocket for the oligosaccharide. The acceptor polypeptide site faces an oxidoreductase domain in stand-alone OST complexes or is immediately adjacent to the translocon, suggesting how eukaryotic OSTs efficiently glycosylate a large number of polypeptides before their folding.
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