Through advances in analytical methods to detect glycoproteins and to determine glycan structures, there have been increasing reports of protein glycosylation in bacteria. In this review, we summarize the known pathways for bacterial protein glycosylation: lipid carrier-mediated 'en bloc' glycosylation; and cytoplasmic stepwise protein glycosylation. The exploitation of bacterial protein glycosylation systems, especially the 'mix and match' of three independent but similar pathways (oligosaccharyltransferase-mediated protein glycosylation, lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan biosynthesis) in Gram-negative bacteria for glycoengineering recombinant glycoproteins is also discussed.

Citation： Li Hong, Debowski Aleksandra W., Liao Tingting, Tang Hong, Nilsson Hans-Olof, Marshall Barry J., Stubbs Keith A., Benghezal Mohammed. Understanding protein glycosylation pathways in bacteria. West China medical Virtual Journal, 2000, 1(1): 59-72-. doi: 10.2217/fmb-2016-0166 Copy