CREB-associated glycosylation and function in human disease

Abstract

The shortcomings of mRNA sequencing in explaining biological functions have resulted in proteomics gradually becoming a hotspot for research. However, the function of proteins becomes complicated as a result of post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation, glycosylation, acetylation, etc. Post-translational modifications do not change the physicochemical properties such as charge and solubility of the proteins, but they can have significant consequences on disease initiation in living organisms. The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB) is an important transcription regulator in eukaryotic cells. It is involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, diabetic complications, tumorigenesis, and neurogenesis. Previously, researchers have paid much more attention to the phosphorylation modification of CREB. However, it seems that the functional regulation-mediated glycosylation modification of CREB was just beginning to be understood. In this review, the current studies and most updated insights on how the glycosylation modification of CREB affects targeted gene expression and disease development will be comprehensively discussed. We hope to further evaluate the role of CREB glycosylation on the regulation of gene function.