O-LINKED GLYCOSYLATION USING N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINYL TRANSFERASES

摘要

The present invention provides covalent conjugates between a polypeptide and a modifying group, such as a water-soluble polymer (e.g., PEG). The amino acid sequence of the polypeptide includes one or more O-linked glycosylation sequence, each being a substrate for a GIcNAc transferase. The modifying group is covalently linked to the polypeptide via a glycosyl-linking group interposed between and covalently linked to both the polypeptide and the modifying group. In one embodiment, a glucosamine linking group is directly attached to an amino acid residue of the O-linked glycosylation sequence. The invention further provides methods of making polypeptide conjugates. The present invention also provides non-naturally ocurring polypeptides that include at leats one O-linked linked glycosylation sequence of the invention, wherein each glycosylation sequence is a substrate for a GIcNAc transferase. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions that include a polypeptide conjugate of the invention.