Dual functionality of O -GlcNAc transferase is required for Drosophila development

Post-translational modification of intracellular proteins with O -linked N -acetylglucosamine ( O -GlcNAc) catalysed by O -GlcNAc transferase (OGT) has been linked to regulation of diverse cellular functions. OGT possesses a C-terminal glycosyltransferase catalytic domain and N-terminal tetratricopeptide repeats that are implicated in protein–protein interactions. Drosophila OGT ( Dm OGT) is encoded by super sex combs ( sxc ), mutants of which are pupal lethal. However, it is not clear if this phenotype is caused by reduction of O -GlcNAcylation. Here we use a genetic approach to demonstrate that post-pupal Drosophila development can proceed with negligible OGT catalysis, while early embryonic development is OGT activity-dependent. Structural and enzymatic comparison between human OGT (hOGT) and Dm OGT informed the rational design of Dm OGT point mutants with a range of reduced catalytic activities. Strikingly, a severely hypomorphic OGT mutant complements sxc pupal lethality. However, the hypomorphic OGT mutant-rescued progeny do not produce F2 adults, because a set of Hox genes is de-repressed in F2 embryos, resulting in homeotic phenotypes. Thus, OGT catalytic activity is required up to late pupal stages, while further development proceeds with severely reduced OGT activity.