A novel function of VCP (valosin-containing protein; p97) in the control of N-glycosylation of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum.

α-Chain of T-cell receptor (TCR) is a typical ERAD (ER-associated degradation) substrate degraded in the absence of other TCR subunits. Depletion of derlin 1 fails to induce accumulation of αTCR despite inducing accumulation of α1-antitrypsin, another ERAD substrate. Furthermore, while depletion of VCP does not affect levels of α1-antitrypsin, it induces an increase in levels of αTCR. RNAi of VCP induces preferential accumulation of αTCR with less mannose residues, suggesting its retention within the ER. Mass spectrometric analysis of cellular N-linked glycans revealed that depletion of VCP decreases the level of high-mannose glycoproteins, increases the levels of truncated low-mannose glycoproteins and induces changes in the abundance of complex glycans assembled in post-ER compartments. Since proteasome inhibition was unable to mimic those changes, they cannot be regarded as a simple consequence of inhibited ERAD but represent a complex effect of VCP on the function of the ER.