Nuclear N-Glycosylation Redefines the Glycoscape and Directs Cell Identity

Abstract

Glycans modify nucleic acids, proteins and lipids in fundamental biological processes, but have long been considered confined to the secretory pathway and cell surface. Here, we challenge this view with evidence that N-glycosylation, a ubiquitous glycan modification, occurs within cell nuclei across tissues and species, exhibiting cell type-dependent abundance and localization patterns. Using a multi-faceted approach, we show that numerous classical membrane and secreted glycoproteins localize to the nucleus with N-glycan modifications, exemplified by the cell adhesion molecule L1CAM. Mechanistically, we show that the N-glycosylated L1CAM is transported to the nucleus by KPNB1, where it transcriptionally modulates neuronal differentiation. Moreover, this nuclear N-glycosylation event contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders and is pharmacologically reversible. These findings revise the cellular geography of N-glycosylation and expand the known routes of protein trafficking, and highlight nuclear N-glycosylation pathways as potential therapeutic entry points for developmental disorders.