O-GlcNAcylation and Cell Metabolism

Metabolism is a vital process to obtain nutrients and energy for cells or organisms, and the homeostasis of it is fundamental for nearly all biological activities of organism. O-GlcNAcylation is derived from the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway, which integrates the metabolism from glucose, glutamine, acetyl-CoA, and nucleotides. O-GlcNAcylation levels fluctuate with the concentration of these metabolites and thus are considered as the “metabolic sensor” of cells. On the other hand, O-GlcNAcylation acts as a key regulator of cell metabolism by directly or indirectly modulating the metabolic pathways. In this chapter, we summarize the direct and indirect influences of O-GlcNAcylation on cell metabolism and the subsequent impact on cell biology.