Ogt-Dependent X-Chromosome-Linked Protein Glycosylation Is a Requisite Modification in Somatic Cell Function and Embryo Viability

Abstract

The Ogt gene encodes a glycosyltransferase that links N-acetylglucosamine to serine and threonine residues (O-GlcNAc) on nuclear and cytosolic proteins. Efforts to study a mammalian model of Ogt deficiency have been hindered by the requirement for this X-linked gene in embryonic stem cell viability, necessitating the use of conditional mutagenesis in vivo. We have extended these observations by segregating Ogt mutation to distinct somatic cell types, including neurons, thymocytes, and fibroblasts, the latter by an approach developed for inducible Ogt mutagenesis. We show that Ogt mutation results in the loss of O-GlcNAc and causes T-cell apoptosis, neuronal tau hyperphosphorylation, and fibroblast growth arrest with altered expression of c-Fos, c-Jun, c-Myc, Sp1, and p27. We further segregated the mutant Ogt allele to parental gametes by oocyte- and spermatid-specific Cre-loxP mutagenesis. By this we established an in vivo genetic approach that supports the ontogeny of female heterozygotes bearing mutant X-linked genes required during embryogenesis. Successful production and characterization of such female heterozygotes further indicates that mammalian cells commonly require a functional Ogt allele. We find that O-GlcNAc modulates protein phosphorylation and expression among essential and conserved cell signaling pathways.

We thank our colleagues Steve Dowdy, Daniel Chui, and Lesley Ellies for helpful discussions.

This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (DK48247 to J.D.M. and HD13563 to G.W.H.) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (J.D.M.). J.D.M. acknowledges support as an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Under a licensing agreement between Covance Research Products and Hoffman-La Roche and The Johns Hopkins University, G.W.H. receives a share of royalties on sales of the CTD110.6 antibody. The terms of this arrangement are being managed by The Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.

This research adhered to all federal guidelines and institutional policies for the care of the mice used in these experiments.