Interplay of SLC33A1-dependent and -independent Golgi sialic acid O-acetylation in CASD1 catalysis

Sialic acid O-acetylation is implicated in the modulation of sialoglycan recognition and ganglioside biology. The sugar modification is catalyzed by CASD1, a Golgi membrane protein that encompasses a luminal catalytic domain and a multipass transmembrane domain. The mechanism of how acetyl-CoA is provided to the Golgi remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the acetyl-CoA transporter SLC33A1 provides acetyl-CoA to the luminal domain of CASD1 and that patient-derived SLC33A1 variants linked to inherited neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders impair ganglioside 9-O-acetylation. Under conditions that enable the formation of 7,9-di-O-acetylated sialoglycans, genetic inactivation of SLC33A1 impaired di-O-acetylation, but unexpectedly, still enabled mono-O-acetylation. Structure prediction and site-directed mutagenesis revealed a second active site in CASD1 that shares striking similarities with the catalytic acetyl-CoA binding transmembrane tunnel of the lysosomal acetyltransferase HGSNAT. Together, our data provide strong evidence that CASD1 has dual functionalities and catalyzes 7,9-di-O-acetylation through SLC33A1-dependent luminal acetylation and SLC33A1-independent transmembrane acetylation.