Asparagine‐linked N‐glycosylation is a highly conserved and functionally important modification of proteins in eukaryotic cells. The central step in this process is a cotranslational transfer of lipid‐linked core oligosaccharides to selected Asn‐X‐Ser/Thr‐sequences of nascent polypeptide chains, catalysed by the enzyme N‐oligosaccharyl transferase. In this report we show that the essential yeast protein WBP1 (te Heesen et al., 1991) is required for N‐oligosaccharyl transferase in vivo and in vitro. Depletion of WBP1 correlates with a defect in transferring core oligosaccharides to carboxypeptidase Y and proteinase A in vivo. In addition, in vitro N‐glycosylation of the acceptor peptide Tyr‐Asn‐Leu‐Thr‐Ser‐Val using microsomal membranes from WBP1 depleted cells is reduced as compared with membranes from wild‐type cells. We propose that WBP1 is an essential component of the oligosaccharyl transferase in yeast.

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Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) concentration in blood cells was analyzed by HPLC and compared to plasma concentration before, during, and after CoQ10 (3 mg/kg/day) supplementation to human probands. Lymphocyte DNA 8-hydroxydeoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of oxidative stress, was analyzed by Comet assay. Subjects supplemented with CoQ10 showed a distinct response in plasma concentrations after 14 and 28 days. Plasma levels returned to baseline values 12 weeks after treatment stopped. The plasma concentration increase did not affect erythrocyte levels. However, after CoQ10 supplementation, the platelet level increased; after supplementation stopped, the platelet level showed a delayed decrease. A positive correlation was shown between the plasma CoQ10 level and platelet and white blood cell CoQ10 levels. During CoQ10 supplementation, delayed formation of 8-OHdG in lymphocyte DNA was observed; this effect was long-lasting and could be observed even 12 weeks after supplementation stopped. Intracellular enrichment may support anti-oxidative defense mechanisms.

Our results either suggest an impairment of electron transport or a higher need for reduced forms of CoQ10 in the platelets of even de novo parkinsonian patients. However, the CoQ10 redox ratio was not correlated to disease severity, as determined by the Hoehn and Yahr PD disability classification, suggesting that this parameter may not be useful as a peripheral trait marker for the severity of PD but as an early state marker of PD.