title: beta4GalT-II is a key regulator of glycosylation of the proteins involved in neuronal development.
abstract: Seven members of the human beta1,4-galactosyltransferase (beta4GalTs) have been identified and characterized by many groups. beta4GalTs play important roles in the extension of N- and O-linked glycans involved in several biological events. However, it has not been clear which beta4GalTs can act on glycoproteins, such as alpha-dystroglycan and Notch receptors, involved in neuronal development. To clarify which beta4GalTs can function, we determined the enzyme activities toward such motifs and the transcript levels in human normal tissues. Among human beta4GalTs, both beta4GalT-I and beta4GalT-II could act efficiently on all substrates, but the relative activity of beta4GalT-II was higher than that of beta4GalT-I. Transcript of beta4GalT-I was widely expressed except for brain, and on the other hand, that of beta4GalT-II was expressed at high levels in the brain. Thus, these results suggest that among human beta4GalTs, beta4GalT-II is a major regulator of the synthesis of glycans involved in neuronal development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, Soka University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manya
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Tatsushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Tamao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishihara
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000502:physiology; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors; D005700:Galactosyltransferases; C419407:beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase II