Identification of Genes Required for Neural-Specific Glycosylation Using Functional Genomics

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001254
• Publication Date: 2010-12-23T21:36:33Z
• Authors: Miki Yamamoto-Hino; Yoshimi Kanie; Wakae Awano; Kiyoko F. Aoki-Ki...; Hiroyuki Yano; Shoko Nishihara; Hideyuki Okano; Ryu Ueda; Osamu Kanie; Satoshi Goto
• Keywords: Fucosylation; Functional Genomics; Neural Development

Glycosylation plays crucial regulatory roles in various biological processes such as development, immunity, and neural functions. For example, α1,3-fucosylation, the addition of a fucose moiety abundant Drosophila cells, is essential for function, behavior. However, it remains largely unknown how neural-specific α1,3-fucosylation regulated. In present study, we searched genes involved glycosylation protein using RNAi library. We obtained 109 affecting that clustered into nine functional groups. Among them, members RNA regulation group were enriched by secondary screen identified specifically regulating α1,3-fucosylation. Further analyses revealed an RNA–binding protein, second mitotic wave missing (Swm), upregulates expression glycosyltransferase FucTA facilitates its mRNA export from nucleus. This first large-scale genetic glycosylation-related has novel fucTA cells.