Abstract

Galectin CGL2 from the ink cap mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea displays toxicity towards the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. A mutation in a putative glycosyltransferase-encoding gene resulted in a CGL2-resistant C. elegans strain characterized by N-glycans lacking the beta1,4-galactoside linked to the alpha1,6-linked core fucose. Expression of the corresponding GALT-1 protein in insect cells was used to demonstrate a manganese dependent galactosyltransferase activity. In vitro, the GALT-1 enzyme showed strong selectivity for acceptors with alpha1,6-linked N-glycan core fucosides and required Golgi-dependent modifications on the oligosaccharide antennae for optimal synthesis of the Galbeta1,4Fuc structure. Phylogenetic analysis of the GALT-1 protein sequence identified a novel glycosyltransferase family (GT92) with members widespread among eukarya but absent in mammals.