N-linked glycans confer protein stability and modulate multidrug efflux pump assemblyin Campylobacter jejuni

It is now apparent that nearly all bacteria species have at least a single glycosylation system, but the direct effect(s) of these protein post translational modifications are unresolved. In this study, we used the generalN-linked glycosylation pathway fromCampylobacter jejunito investigate the biophysical roles of protein modification on the CmeABC multidrug efflux pump complex. The study reveals the multifunctional role ofN-linked glycans in enhancing protein thermostability, stabilising protein complexes and the promotion of protein-protein interaction. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that regardless of glycan diversification among domains of life,N-linked glycans confer a common evolutionary intrinsic role.