Chronic ethanol downregulates Gal-beta-1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase and Gal-beta-1,3GlcNAc alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase mRNAs in rat liver.
We have previously demonstrated that chronic ethanol specifically decreases the hepatic level and rate of synthesis of 2,6-sialyltransferase (2,6-ST). To understand its mechanism of action, effects of 8 weeks of chronic ethanol feeding on the expression of sialyltransferase (ST) genes in rat liver and kidneys were determined by Northern-blot analysis of ST mRNAs. It was found that, compared with the pair-fed control rats, the percentage decreases in ST mRNAs in the ethanol-fed group were as follows: liver-Gal-beta-1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,6-ST (2,6-ST): 59% (p < 0.001); liver-Gal-beta-1,3GlcNAc alpha 2,3-ST (2,3-ST): 32% (p < 0.01); and kidneys-2,6-ST: 5% (NS). In contrast, glyceral-dehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA in both liver and kidneys was unaffected by the same ethanol treatment. Taken together, these results demonstrate that chronic ethanol downregulates the expression of 2,6-ST and 2,3-ST genes in rat liver.
Rao
M N
MN
Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Lakshman
M R
MR
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase; D000094663:beta-Galactoside alpha-2,3-Sialyltransferase
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012799:Sialyltransferases; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase; D000094663:beta-Galactoside alpha-2,3-Sialyltransferase