SRD5A3 is required for converting polyprenol to dolichol and is mutated in a congenital glycosylation disorder

Cell. 2010 Jul 23;142(2):203-17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.06.001. Epub 2010 Jul 15.

Abstract

N-linked glycosylation is the most frequent modification of secreted and membrane-bound proteins in eukaryotic cells, disruption of which is the basis of the congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs). We describe a new type of CDG caused by mutations in the steroid 5alpha-reductase type 3 (SRD5A3) gene. Patients have mental retardation and ophthalmologic and cerebellar defects. We found that SRD5A3 is necessary for the reduction of the alpha-isoprene unit of polyprenols to form dolichols, required for synthesis of dolichol-linked monosaccharides, and the oligosaccharide precursor used for N-glycosylation. The presence of residual dolichol in cells depleted for this enzyme suggests the existence of an unexpected alternative pathway for dolichol de novo biosynthesis. Our results thus suggest that SRD5A3 is likely to be the long-sought polyprenol reductase and reveal the genetic basis of one of the earliest steps in protein N-linked glycosylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Abnormalities, Multiple / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Butadienes / metabolism
  • Consanguinity
  • Dolichols / metabolism*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Glycosylation
  • Hemiterpenes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mutation*
  • Pentanes / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Unfolded Protein Response

Substances

  • Butadienes
  • DFG10 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Dolichols
  • Hemiterpenes
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Pentanes
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • isoprene
  • 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase
  • SRD5A3 protein, human
  • Srd5a3 protein, mouse