title: Cloning of a novel member of the UDP-galactose:beta-N-acetylglucosamine beta1,4-galactosyltransferase family, beta4Gal-T4, involved in glycosphingolipid biosynthesis.
abstract: A novel putative member of the human UDP-galactose:beta-N-acetylglucosamine beta1,4-galactosyltransferase family, designated beta4Gal-T4, was identified by BLAST analysis of expressed sequence tags. The sequence of beta4Gal-T4 encoded a type II membrane protein with significant sequence similarity to other beta1,4-galactosyltransferases. Expression of the full coding sequence and a secreted form of beta4Gal-T4 in insect cells showed that the gene product had beta1,4-galactosyltransferase activity. Analysis of the substrate specificity of the secreted form revealed that the enzyme catalyzed glycosylation of glycolipids with terminal beta-GlcNAc; however, in contrast to beta4Gal-T1, -T2, and -T3, this enzyme did not transfer galactose to asialo-agalacto-fetuin, asialo-agalacto-transferrin, or ovalbumin. The catalytic activity of beta4Gal-T4 with monosaccharide acceptor substrates, N-acetylglucosamine as well as glucose, was markedly activated in the presence of alpha-lactalbumin. The genomic organization of the coding region of beta4Gal-T4 was contained in six exons. All intron/exon boundaries were similarly positioned in beta4Gal-T1, -T2, and -T3. beta4Gal-T4 represents a new member of the beta4-galactosyltransferase family. Its kinetic parameters suggest unique functions in the synthesis of neolactoseries glycosphingolipids.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Norre Allé 20, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schwientek
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Levery
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Clausen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009237:N-Acetyllactosamine Synthase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D009237:N-Acetyllactosamine Synthase