Diversity of protein N-glycosylation in the tree of life.

We aim to illuminate the critical yet understudied diversity and function of protein N-glycosylation across the tree of life. Acknowledging its pivotal role in the evolution of cell-cell and cell-ECM interaction, our project focuses on constructing an extensive atlas of site and residue specific N-glycosylation in a broad selection of > 30 Metazoan and non-Metazoan species. Leveraging glycoproteomics and comparative phylogenomics, we seek to create a one-of-a-kind resource and establish an entirely new line of Planetary Biology research to investigate the origins of animal multicellularity, the nervous system and symbiotic interactions between organisms such as corals and dinoflagellates.

Collaborators

Alexandros Pittis lab – Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FoRTH)

Elizabeth Hambleton lab – Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna