O-GlcNAc transferase inhibitors: current tools and future challenges

Riccardo Trapannone, Karim Rafie, Daan M. F. Van Aalten (Lead / Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) post-translational modification (O-GlcNAcylation) is the dynamic and reversible attachment of N-acetylglucosamine to serine and threonine residues of nucleocytoplasmic target proteins. It is abundant in metazoa, involving hundreds of proteins linked to a plethora of biological functions with implications in human diseases. The process is catalysed by two enzymes: O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) that add and remove sugar moieties respectively. OGT knockout is embryonic lethal in a range of animal models, hampering the study of the biological role of O-GlcNAc and the dissection of catalytic compared with non-catalytic roles of OGT. Therefore, selective and potent chemical tools are necessary to inhibit OGT activity in the context of biological systems. The present review focuses on the available OGT inhibitors and summarizes advantages, limitations and future challenges.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)88-93
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical Society Transactions
Volume44
Issue number1
Early online date9 Feb 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Feb 2016

Keywords

  • Inhibitor
  • O-linked N-acetylglucosamine
  • O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry

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