O-GalNAc Glycans Are Enriched in Neuronal Tracts and Regulate Nodes of Ranvier

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2025 Feb 25

PMID 39999163

Authors

Maxence Noel

Suttipong Suttapitugsakul

Richard D Cummings

Robert G Mealer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Protein O-glycosylation is a critical modification in the brain, as genetic variants in the pathway are associated with common and severe neuropsychiatric phenotypes. However, little is known about the most abundant O-glycans in the mammalian brain, which are N-acetylgalactosamine (O-GalNAc) linked. Here, we determined the spatial localization, protein carriers, and cellular function of O-GalNAc glycans in the mouse brain. We observed striking spatial enrichment of O-GalNAc glycans in neuronal tracts, and specifically at nodes of Ranvier, specialized structures involved in signal propagation in the brain. Glycoproteomic analysis revealed that more than half of the identified O-GalNAc glycans were present on chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans termed lecticans, and display both domain enrichment and regional heterogeneity. Inhibition of O-GalNAc synthesis in neurons reduced binding of Siglec-4, a known regulator of neurite growth, and shortened the length of nodes of Ranvier. This work establishes a function of O-GalNAc glycans in the brain and will inform future studies on their role in development and disease.

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