A single N-linked oligosaccharide at either of the two normal sites is sufficient for transport of vesicular stomatitis virus G protein to the cell surface.

We investigated the role of glycosylation in intracellular transport and cell surface expression of the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (G) in cells expressing G protein from cloned cDNA. The individual contributions of the two asparagine-linked glycans of G protein to cell surface expression were assessed by site-directed mutagenesis of the coding sequence to eliminate one or the other or both of the glycosylation sites. One oligosaccharide at either position was sufficient for cell surface expression of G protein in transfected cells, and the rates of oligosaccharide processing were similar to the rate observed for wild-type protein. However, the nonglycosylated G protein synthesized when both glycosylation sites were eliminated did not reach the cell surface. This protein did appear to reach a Golgi-like region, as determined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, however, and was modified with palmitic acid. It was also apparently not subject to increased proteolytic breakdown.