Glycobiology Advance Access published online on May 23, 2007
Glycobiology, doi:10.1093/glycob/cwm056
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Published by Oxford University Press 2007
O-linked Glycan Expression During Drosophila Development

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Developmental Glycobiology Unit, NIDCR, National Institutes of Health Building 30, Room 426 30 Convent Drive, MSC 4370 Bethesda, MD 20892-4370
To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: 301-402-0897, Email: Kelly.Tenhagen{at}nih.gov
Received on October 23, 2006; revised on April 18, 2007; accepted on May 17, 2007
Mucin-type O-linked glycosylation is an evolutionarily conserved protein modification that is essential for viability in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the exact role of O-glycans and the identity of the crucial apoproteins modified with
-linked O-GalNAc remain unknown. In an effort to elucidate the O-linked glycans expressed during Drosophila development, we have employed fluorescent confocal microscopy using a battery of lectins and an antibody specific for the GalNAc
-Ser/Thr structure (Tn antigen). Confocal microscopy provides high resolution images of the diversity of glycans expressed in many developing organ systems. In particular, O-glycans are highly expressed on a number of ectodermally-derived tissues such as the salivary glands, developing gut and the tracheal system, suggesting a role for O-glycans in cell polarity and tube formation common to these organs. Additionally, O-glycans are found in the developing nervous system and within subregions of developing tissues known to be active in cell signaling events. These studies provide us with temporal and spatial information regarding O-glycan expression as well as a set of reagents for isolating glycoproteins from specific developmental stages and organ systems. This information will aid us in identifying the in vivo substrates of the UDP-GalNAc: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltranferases, in a continuing effort to define the biological role of O-linked glycoproteins during development.
Key words: Glycosylation / pgant / Drosophila / lectins / development
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