I cannot stop thinking about this one puzzle. Lysosomal proteins are sorted to lysosomes in the cell. This mechanism involves recognition of their unique mannose-6-phosphates on their N-linked glycans by receptors that channel them towards that pathway. However, how do the enzymes that tag mannose-6-phosphates on lysosomal proteins know which proteins to tag? These enzymes must recognize both the glycan and some protein determinant. So far, we only know that the protein determinant involves lysines that are up to 40 angstroms away from the glycans. However, this determinant is not clear cut, and is perhaps some kind of distinct local conformation. I really want to do a structural study to clarify this matter.
germanicus2 · Mon Dec 03, 2007 @ 08:35pm · 1 Comments
