Distinct Effects of O-GlcNAcylation and Phosphorylation of a Tau-Derived Amyloid Peptide on Aggregation of the Native Peptide

Protein phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation are very common nucleoplasmic post-translational modifications. Mono-addition of either the phosphate or the O-GlcNAc group were shown to inhibit the self-aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins and peptides, which is the hallmark of various protein misfolding diseases. However, their comparable effect upon co-incubation with a native non-modified amyloid scaffold has not been reported. O-linked glycans and phosphate variants of the tau protein-derived VQIVYK hexapeptide motif were generated as a simplified amyloid scaffold model and demonstrate that, while self-aggregation can be attenuated by either a single glycan or a phosphate unit, only co-incubation with the O-GlcNAc variant inhibits aggregation of the native peptide. These results shed light on the role of post-translational modifications in protein aggregation and suggest a novel therapeutic approach to protein misfolding diseases.