Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GLYCO-N (GLYCOprotein N-glycosylation from non-life to eukaryotes: a Doctoral Network to expand the knowledge on a ubiquitous posttranslational modification of proteins)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-02-01 bis 2026-01-31
The GLYCO-N training network aims at training Doctoral Candidates (DCs) to acquire the skills to develop different innovative strategies to 1) understand the diversity and structural complexity of archaeal, microalgal and viral N-glycosylation and 2) harness this knowledge for new solutions in biomedicine and biotechnology.
Protein N-glycosylation, or the attachment of oligo- and polysaccharides at specific asparagine residues, is conserved throughout life, and is now observed even in the viral world. In contrast to eukaryotes, whose well-studied N-glycosylation machineries are relatively simple, archaea, microalgae and bacteria utilize a wide variety of monosaccharides to create a wealth of structurally diverse N-glycans, and the same holds true for some recently discovered viruses. Because protein glycosylation occurs far downstream of protein
synthesis the complexity and diversity in N-glycan structures are poorly understood in detail. This holds true specifically for Nglycosylation events that are the subject of the GLYCO-N program: those in archaea, microalgae and viruses.
Understanding of the how and why of N-glycosylation in archaea, microalgae and viruses will open up many possibilities ranging from drug discovery (antivirals) to biotechnology (glycoprotein and glycoprocessing enzyme engineering for materials and life sciences).
The GLYCO-N network brings together a diverse group of glycobiology researchers with world-leading expertise in microbiology, (bio)organic chemistry, computational and structural biology, bioinformatics and chemical biology. The GLYCO-N DCs will have their own individual project with one GLYCO-N expert and will, through research internships, be exposed to complementary Glycoscience.
All individual PhD projects, while rooted in fundamental science, have a practical application, either in biotechnology or in biomedicine, as will be explored through secondments with our associated partners.
Protein N-glycosylation, or the attachment of oligo- and polysaccharides at specific asparagine residues, is conserved throughout life, and is now observed even in the viral world. In contrast to eukaryotes, whose well-studied N-glycosylation machineries are relatively simple, archaea, microalgae and bacteria utilize a wide variety of monosaccharides to create a wealth of structurally diverse N-glycans, and the same holds true for some recently discovered viruses. Because protein glycosylation occurs far downstream of protein
synthesis the complexity and diversity in N-glycan structures are poorly understood in detail. This holds true specifically for Nglycosylation events that are the subject of the GLYCO-N program: those in archaea, microalgae and viruses.
Understanding of the how and why of N-glycosylation in archaea, microalgae and viruses will open up many possibilities ranging from drug discovery (antivirals) to biotechnology (glycoprotein and glycoprocessing enzyme engineering for materials and life sciences).
The GLYCO-N network brings together a diverse group of glycobiology researchers with world-leading expertise in microbiology, (bio)organic chemistry, computational and structural biology, bioinformatics and chemical biology. The GLYCO-N DCs will have their own individual project with one GLYCO-N expert and will, through research internships, be exposed to complementary Glycoscience.
All individual PhD projects, while rooted in fundamental science, have a practical application, either in biotechnology or in biomedicine, as will be explored through secondments with our associated partners.
The first 24 months of the project were focused on the selection and recruitment of the eleventh DCs (first year of the project), and in the start of their PhD program in affiliation with the GLyco-N partners.
Non-scientific activities have also started according to the schedule:
- Management activities have included: the preparation of the Consortium agreement, the appointment of the Supervisory Board and the first meeting of the board, the execution of the kick off meeting and of the first annual meeting. A mid-term review meeting with the project officer was also organised.
- Training activities are also on schedule with the organisation of the three scientific workshops and 2 transferable skills training activities.
- Communication and dissemination activities have started with the development of the project website, and social media of the project. Supervisors and DCs have also attended several scientific events. Other planned activities are described in the deliverable 3.2.
- The project website is available at: https://glyco-n.eu/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Non-scientific activities have also started according to the schedule:
- Management activities have included: the preparation of the Consortium agreement, the appointment of the Supervisory Board and the first meeting of the board, the execution of the kick off meeting and of the first annual meeting. A mid-term review meeting with the project officer was also organised.
- Training activities are also on schedule with the organisation of the three scientific workshops and 2 transferable skills training activities.
- Communication and dissemination activities have started with the development of the project website, and social media of the project. Supervisors and DCs have also attended several scientific events. Other planned activities are described in the deliverable 3.2.
- The project website is available at: https://glyco-n.eu/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)
The importance of Glycoscience for Europe is highlighted by the multitude of Glycoscience groups working on N-glycan topics currently active at universities, research institutes and companies all over Europe. Over 30 research centers for Glycoscience, four COST actions and various collaborative research projects are currently dedicated to Glycoscience and on N-glycans. These efforts have established Europe as a leading research area for such angle of the Glycoscience. However, as the importance of these molecules becomes ever more apparent, efforts are raised all over the globe, which puts pressure on the European research area. GLYCO-N will contribute to furthering Europe’s leading role in Glycoscience by
• Promoting interdisciplinary research and training: The DCs will become conversant in all aspects of carbohydrate chemistry and biology and how to translate fundamental Glycoscience research into new applications for an improved health and a sustainable society.
• Creating new knowledge and methods: GLYCO-N takes a multidisciplinary approach to develop new, in-depth insights into the structure and function of novel N-glycans and their biosynthesis enzymes, their recognizing proteins and how they interact; develop new integrated technologies to synthesize then and their related compounds of unprecedented complexity and diversity; and deliver new design strategies for candidate-drugs for an array of human diseases (infectious diseases/inherited diseases).
• Training the new generation of Glyco-scientists: Through the GLYCO-N DN, the European Glycoscience research community will be enriched with eleven new excellent knowledge researchers with the interdisciplinary and transferable skills needed to drive innovations in N-glycan-related biomedicine and biotechnology.
• Promoting interdisciplinary research and training: The DCs will become conversant in all aspects of carbohydrate chemistry and biology and how to translate fundamental Glycoscience research into new applications for an improved health and a sustainable society.
• Creating new knowledge and methods: GLYCO-N takes a multidisciplinary approach to develop new, in-depth insights into the structure and function of novel N-glycans and their biosynthesis enzymes, their recognizing proteins and how they interact; develop new integrated technologies to synthesize then and their related compounds of unprecedented complexity and diversity; and deliver new design strategies for candidate-drugs for an array of human diseases (infectious diseases/inherited diseases).
• Training the new generation of Glyco-scientists: Through the GLYCO-N DN, the European Glycoscience research community will be enriched with eleven new excellent knowledge researchers with the interdisciplinary and transferable skills needed to drive innovations in N-glycan-related biomedicine and biotechnology.