title: Structure-function relationships of membrane-associated GT-B glycosyltransferases.
abstract: Membrane-associated GT-B glycosyltransferases (GTs) comprise a large family of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a sugar moiety from nucleotide-sugar donors to a wide range of membrane-associated acceptor substrates, mostly in the form of lipids and proteins. As a consequence, they generate a significant and diverse amount of glycoconjugates in biological membranes, which are particularly important in cell-cell, cell-matrix and host-pathogen recognition events. Membrane-associated GT-B enzymes display two "Rossmann-fold" domains separated by a deep cleft that includes the catalytic center. They associate permanently or temporarily to the phospholipid bilayer by a combination of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. They have the remarkable property to access both hydrophobic and hydrophilic substrates that reside within chemically distinct environments catalyzing their enzymatic transformations in an efficient manner. Here, we discuss the considerable progress that has been made in recent years in understanding the molecular mechanism that governs substrate and membrane recognition, and the impact of the conformational transitions undergone by these GTs during the catalytic cycle.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Biofísica, Centro Mixto Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (CSIC, UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, Bizkaia 48940, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albesa-Jové
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giganti
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Pedro M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Alzari
authors.forename: Marcelo E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Guerin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016695:Glycosyltransferases
keywords: X-ray crystallography; carbohydrate-modifying enzyme; glycosyltransferase; membrane protein; structural biology