N-glycosylation

Description:

N-glycosylation

Here we can see a representation of protein N-glycosylation, a process that occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and consists of the transfer of a G3M9 glycan from a dolichol diphosphate (lipid carrier) to nascent proteins. When N-glycosylation is impaired, aberrant proteins accumulate in cells. There are different degradative mechanisms, including autophagy, that control the amount of these defective proteins. A failure in these processes can lead to several diseases in humans. Thus, the painting illustrates the ER membrane (ER lumen at the top and the cytosol at the bottom), with (from right to left) the translocon-associated protein (TRAP, red), Sec61 (red) with a nascent protein passing through (blue), the oligosaccharyltransferase (yellow), and a dolichol biphosphate molecule bound to a G3M9 glycan. The ribosome that synthesizes the nascent polypeptide is shown in the cytosol as a large gray structure. An alternative version of this artwork was published as a cover image in the Journal of Cell Science, Volume 135, Issue 5.

Printed copy on sale
(different sizes)

Author:

Ayelen, Valko

Year:

2022

Technique:

Collage, acrylic pouring,
and digital integration of
individual drawings