Oligosaccharyl transferase that maintains ER homeostasis enhances immunity via up-regulating p38 MAP kinase signaling in C. elegans

Oligosaccharyl transferase (OST) protein complex mediates the N-linked glycosylation of substrate proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which regulates stability, activity and localization of its substrates. Although many OST substrate proteins have been identified, the physiological role of OST complex remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that OST complex in C. elegans is crucial for ER protein homeostasis and enhances resistance to pathogenic bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA14), via immune-regulatory PMK-1/p38 MAP kinase. Overall design: The investigation of the changes of gene expression upon knockdown of stt-3 or infection with PA14