The emerging link between O-GlcNAc and Alzheimer disease

Abstract

Regional glucose hypometabolism is a defining feature of Alzheimer disease (AD). One emerging link between glucose hypometabolism and progression of AD is the nutrient-responsive post-translational O-GlcNAcylation of nucleocytoplasmic proteins. O-GlcNAc is abundant in neurons and occurs on both tau and amyloid precursor protein. Increased brain O-GlcNAcylation protects against tau and amyloid-β peptide toxicity. Decreased O-GlcNAcylation occurs in AD, suggesting that glucose hypometabolism may impair the protective roles of O-GlcNAc within neurons and enable neurodegeneration. Here, we review how O-GlcNAc may link cerebral glucose hypometabolism to progression of AD and summarize data regarding the protective role of O-GlcNAc in AD models.

Keywords: Alzheimer Disease; Amyloid-β (Aβ); Brain Metabolism; Glucose Metabolism; Glycobiology; Glycoprotein; Glycosylation; O-GlcNAcylation; O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc); Tau Protein (Tau).