title: Molecular cloning and expression of mouse GD1alpha/GT1aalpha/GQ1balpha synthase (ST6GalNAc VI) gene.
abstract: A novel member of the mouse CMP-NeuAc:beta-N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6GalNAc) subfamily, designated ST6GalNAc VI, was identified by BLAST analysis of expressed sequence tags. The sequence of the cDNA clone of ST6GalNAc VI encoded a type II membrane protein with 43 amino acids composing the cytoplasmic domain, 21 amino acids composing the transmembrane region, and 269 amino acids composing the catalytic domain. The predicted amino acid sequence showed homology to the previously cloned ST6GalNAc III, IV, and V, with common amino acid sequences in sialyl motif L and S among these four enzymes. A fusion protein with protein A and extracts from L cells transfected with ST6GalNAc VI in an expression vector showed enzyme activity of alpha2,6-sialyltransferase for GM1b, GT1b, and GD1a but not toward glycoproteins. Thin layer chromatography-immunostaining revealed that the products were GD1alpha, GQ1balpha, and GT1aalpha. Northern blotting revealed that this gene was expressed in a wide range of mouse tissues such as colon, liver, heart, spleen, and brain. It is concluded that this enzyme is a novel sialyltransferase involved in the synthesis of alpha-series gangliosides in the nervous tissues and many other tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry II, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Tsurumai, Nagoya 466-0065, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8613, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiso
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Urano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furukawa
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005732:Gangliosides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C084318:GT1aalpha ganglioside; C084317:GQ1balpha ganglioside; D012799:Sialyltransferases; C400189:brain-specific GD1alpha synthase, ST6GalNAc V