UDP-N-acetyl-α-D-galactosamine:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases: completion of the family tree.

ABSTRACT: The formation of mucin-type O-glycans is initiated by an evolutionarily conserved family of enzymes, the UDP-N-acetyl-α-D-galactosamine:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc-Ts). The human genome encodes 20 transferases; 17 of which have been characterized functionally. The complexity of the GalNAc-T family reflects the differential patterns of expression among the individual enzyme isoforms and the unique substrate specificities which are required to form the dense arrays of glycans that are essential for mucin function. We report the expression patterns and enzymatic activity of the remaining three members of the family and the further characterization of a recently reported isoform, GalNAc-T17. One isoform, GalNAcT-16 that is most homologous to GalNAc-T14, is widely exp

SUBMITTER: Raman J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3336867 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature