Protein glycosylation is one of the most elaborate covalent modifications known.
Glycoproteins are common in all eucaryotic cells, in archaea and eubacteria.
Our group is focusing on protein O-mannosylation , which was originally observed in fungi. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , O-mannosylation is an essential protein modification which is indispensable for cell morphology and cell wall integrity. In the opportunistic pathogenic fungus Candida albicans reduced protein O-mannosylation results in defects in morphogenesis, abated adherence to host cells, and a strong attenuation of virulence in mouse model systems. However, despite the functional importance of the evolutionarily conserved Pmtp mannosyltransferases the initial steps of protein O-mannosylation are still very poorly understood.