ST8SIA4-Dependent Polysialylation is Part of a Developmental Program Required for Germ Layer Formation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

ABSTRACT: Polysialic acid (PSA) is a carbohydrate polymer of repeating α-2,8 sialic acid residues that decorates multiple targets, including neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). PST and STX encode the two enzymes responsible for PSA modification of target proteins in mammalian cells, but despite widespread polysialylation in embryonic development, the majority of studies have focused strictly on the role of PSA in neurogenesis. Using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), we have revisited the developmental role of PST and STX and show that early progenitors of the three embryonic germ layers are polysialylated on their cell surface. Changes in polysialylation can be attributed to lineage-specific expression of polysialyltransferase genes; PST is elevated in endoderm and mesoderm, while STX is eleva

SUBMITTER: Berger RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4931981 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature