Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

Molecular Mechanisms Of Aberrant Protein Glycosylation In Pancreatic Cancer Stemness And Metastasis, Frank Leon

Theses & Dissertations

A myriad of genetic and other abnormal changes underlies the aggressiveness and dissemination properties observed in pancreatic cancer (PC). Aberrant protein glycosylation is a commonly observed feature in PC. The modification of protein O-glycosylation is mediated by glycosyltransferases, which attach and sequentially elongate monosaccharides on Serine/Threonine (Ser/Thr) motifs. Aberrant glycosylation is recognized as an emerging hallmark of cancer where a disruption in normal glycosylation results in irregular O-glycans.

This dissertation research has investigated the consequences of aberrant protein glycosylation on stemness and enhancement of metastatic properties in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Several publications have reported aberrant O-glycosylation increases in oncogenic …