O-GlcNAcylation Is Essential for Autophagy in Cardiomyocytes

Abstract EN

Since both O-GlcNAcylation and autophagy sense intracellular nutrient level, the alteration of those two pathways plays substantial roles in the progression of heart failure.

Hence, determining the relationship between O-GlcNAcylation and autophagy is imperative to understand, prevent, and treat heart failure.

However, the mechanism on how O-GlcNAcylation regulates autophagy in the heart is poorly investigated.

In this study, we demonstrated that O-GlcNAcylation is required for autophagy in cardiomyocytes by utilizing an O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) cardiomyocyte-specific knockout mouse model for the first time.

We also identified that OGT might regulate the initiation of autophagy in cardiomyocytes through promoting the activity of ULK1 by O-GlcNAcylation.

In conclusion, our findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying heart dysfunction and benefit the development of treatments for heart failure.