Mechanical effect of protein glycosylation on BiP-mediated post-translational translocation and folding in the endoplasmic reticulum

Abstract

About one-third of the proteins synthesized in eukaryotic cells are directed to the secretory pathway, where close to 70% are being N-glycosylated. N-glycosylation is a crucial modification for various cellular processes, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) glycoprotein folding quality control, lysosome delivery, and cell signaling. The defects in N-glycosylation can lead to severe developmental diseases. For the proteins to be glycosylated, they must be translocated to the ER through the Sec61 translocon channel, either via co-translationally or post-translationally. N-glycosylation not only could accelerate post-translational translocation but may also enhance protein stability, while protein folding can assist in their movement into the ER. However, the precise mechanisms by which N-glycosylation and folding influence translocation remain poorly understood. The chaperone BiP is essential for post-translational translocation, using a "ratchet" mechanism to facilitate protein entry into the ER. Although research has explored how BiP interacts with protein substrates, there has been less focus on its binding to glycosylated substrates. Here, we review the effect of N-glycosylation on protein translocation, employing single-molecule studies and ensembles approaches to clarify the roles of BiP and N-glycosylation in these processes. Our review explores the possibility of a direct relationship between translocation and a ratchet effect of glycosylation and the importance of BiP in binding glycosylated proteins for the ER quality control system.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12551-025-01313-x.

Keywords: BiP Chaperone; ER translocation; Protein N-glycosylation; Ratchet mechanism.