Abstract
Protein glycosylation – the decoration of proteins with sugars – is the most common posttranslational modification in all biology. Long overlooked in bacteria, it is now estimated that at least 50% of all bacterial proteins are glycosylated. Bacterial glycoproteins play a critical role for fundamental life processes such as growth and survival, but also for bacterial pathogenicity.
We will develop a novel imaging system for protein glycosylation in living bacteria, using an activity-based probe for a key enzyme of bacterial N-glycosylation. Our system will be a powerful tool to study the functional role of protein glycosylation, e.g. for bacterial adhesion to host cells.
References
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