Glucan linked to proteins is a natural mega-glycoconjugate (mGC) playing the central role as a structural component of a yeast cell wall (CW). Regulation of functioning of non-covalently bound glucanosyltransglycosylases (ncGTGs) that have to remodel mGC to provide CW extension is poorly understood. We demonstrate that the main ncGTGs Bgl2 and Scw4 have phosphorylated and glutathionylated residues and are represented in CW as different pools of molecules having various firmness of attachment. Identified pools contain Bgl2 molecules with unmodified peptides, but differ from each other in the presence and combination of modified ones, as well as in the presence or absence of other CW proteins. Correlation of Bgl2 distribution among pools and its N-glycosylation was not found. Glutathione affects Bgl2 conformation, probably resulting in the mode of its attachment and enzymatic activity. Bgl2 from the pool of unmodified and monophosphorylated molecules demonstrates the ability to fibrillate after isolation from CW. Revealing of Bgl2 microcompartments and their mosaic arrangement summarized with the results obtained give the evidence that the functioning of ncGTGs in CW can be controlled by reversible post-translational modifications and facilitated due to their compact localization. The hypothetical scheme of distribution of Bgl2 inside CW is represented.
Bgl2p is a major, conservative, constitutive glucanosyltransglycosylase of the yeast cell wall (CW) with amyloid amino acid sequences, strongly non-covalently anchored in CW, but is able to leave it. In the environment, Bgl2p can form fibrils and/or participate in biofilm formation. Despite a long study, the question of how Bgl2p is anchored in CW remains unclear. Earlier, it was demonstrated that Bgl2p lost the ability to attach in CW and to fibrillate after the deletion of nine amino acids in its C-terminal region (CTR). Here, we demonstrated that a Bgl2p anchoring is weakened by substitution Glu-233/Ala in the active center. Using AlphaFold and molecular modeling approach, we demonstrated the role of CTR on Bgl2p attachment and supposed the conformational possibilities determined by the presence or absence of an intramolecular disulfide bond, forming by Cys-310, leading to accessibility of amyloid sequence and β-turns localized in CTR of Bgl2p for protein interactions. We hypothesized the mode of Bgl2p attachment in CW. Using atomic force microscopy, we investigated fibrillar structures formed by peptide V187MANAFSYWQ196 and suggested that it can serve as a factor leading to the induction of amyloid formation during interaction of Bgl2p with other proteins and is of medical interest being located close to the surface of the molecule.