Biology subjects

Walimbe, A. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Walimbe, A. S..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Identification of a short, single site matriglycan that maintains neuromuscular function in the mouse

Matriglycan (-1,3-{beta}-glucuronic acid-1,3--xylose-) is a polysaccharide that is synthesized on -dystroglycan, where it functions as a high-affinity glycan receptor for extracellular proteins, such as laminin, perlecan and agrin, thus anchoring the plasma membrane to the extracellular matrix. This biological activity is closely associated with the size of matriglycan. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and site-specific mutant mice, we show for the first time that matriglycan on the T317/T319 and T379 sites of -dystroglycan are not identical. T379-linked matriglycan is shorter than the previously characterized T317/T319-linked matriglycan, although it maintains its laminin binding capacity. Transgenic mice with only the shorter T379-linked matriglycan exhibited mild embryonic lethality, but those that survived were healthy. The shorter T379-linked matriglycan exists in multiple tissues and maintains neuromuscular function in adult mice. In addition, the genetic transfer of -dystroglycan carrying just the short matriglycan restored grip strength and protected skeletal muscle from eccentric contraction-induced damage in muscle-specific dystroglycan knock-out mice. Due to the effects that matriglycan imparts on the extracellular proteome and its ability to modulate cell-matrix interactions, our work suggests that differential regulation of matriglycan length in various tissues optimizes the extracellular environment for unique cell types.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2022

Dystroglycan N-terminal domain enables LARGE1 to extend matriglycan on α-dystroglycan and prevents muscular dystrophy

Dystroglycan (DG) requires extensive post-translational processing to function as a receptor for extracellular matrix proteins containing laminin-G-like (LG) domains. Matriglycan is an elongated polysaccharide of alternating xylose and glucuronic acid that is uniquely synthesized on -dystroglycan (-DG) by like-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-1 (LARGE1) and binds with high affinity to matrix proteins like laminin. Defects in the post-translational processing of -DG that result in a shorter form of matriglycan reduce the size of -DG and decrease laminin binding, leading to various forms of muscular dystrophy. However, little is known regarding mechanisms that generate full-length matriglycan on -DG (~150-250 kDa). Here, we show that LARGE1 can only synthesize a short, non-elongated form of matriglycan in mouse skeletal muscle that lacks the DG N-terminus (-DGN), resulting in a ~100-125 kDa -DG. This smaller form of -DG binds laminin and maintains specific force but does not prevent muscle pathophysiology, including reduced force induced by eccentric contractions and abnormalities in neuromuscular junctions. Collectively, our study demonstrates that -DGN is required for LARGE1 to extend matriglycan to its full mature length on -DG and thus prevent muscle pathophysiology.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2020

POMK Regulates Dystroglycan Function via LARGE-mediated Elongation of Matriglycan

Matriglycan [-GlcA-{beta}1,3-Xyl-1,3-]n serves as a scaffold in many tissues for extracellular matrix proteins containing laminin-G domains including laminin, agrin, and perlecan. Like-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-1 (LARGE) synthesizes and extends matriglycan on -dystroglycan (-DG) during skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration; however, the mechanisms which regulate matriglycan elongation are unknown. Here, we show that Protein O-Mannose Kinase (POMK), which phosphorylates mannose of core M3 (GalNac-{beta}1,3-GlcNac-{beta}1,4-Man) preceding matriglycan synthesis, is required for LARGE-mediated generation of full-length matriglycan on -DG ([~]150 kDa). In the absence of POMK, LARGE synthesizes a very short matriglycan resulting in a [~]90 kDa -DG in mouse skeletal muscle which binds laminin but cannot prevent eccentric contraction-induced force loss or muscle pathology. Solution NMR spectroscopy studies demonstrate that LARGE directly interacts with core M3 and binds preferentially to the phosphorylated form. Collectively, our study demonstrates that phosphorylation of core M3 by POMK enables LARGE to elongate matriglycan on -DG, thereby preventing muscular dystrophy.

biochemistry↗