The Aebi Lab - Microbial Glycobiology: All Like It Sweet

All prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are coated with carbohydrates, most of them covalently linked to proteins or lipids. Glycoconjugates therefore play a crucial role in the interaction between cells and their environment but they also fulfill important intracellular functions.

Our laboratory is interested in various aspects of glycobiology in prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms with a main focus on N-linked protein glycosylation. Having contributed to the dissection of the eukaryotic pathway of N-linked protein glycosylation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the laboratory continues to work on the ER pathway of N-linked protein glycosylation and the role of the N-glycans in the folding process of secretory proteins. In addition, the molecular characterization of bacterial N-glycosylation as well as the role of glycans and lectins in fungal development and defense are studied.

Research projects

• N-Linked Protein Glycosylation in the Endoplasmic Reticulum »»
• Glycans and Lectins in the Defense of Fungi against Predators and Parasites »»
• N-Linked Protein Glycosylation in Bacteria »»

Latest publication

A combined system for engineering glycosylation efficiency and glycan structure in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Applied and environmental microbiology, 79 (3): 997-1007, November 2012.
[Abstract] [Full Text]