title: Structural insight into mammalian sialyltransferases.
abstract: Mammalian cell surfaces are modified by complex arrays of glycoproteins, glycolipids and polysaccharides, many of which terminate in sialic acid and have central roles in essential processes including cell recognition, adhesion and immunogenicity. Sialylation of glycoconjugates is performed by a set of sequence-related enzymes known as sialyltransferases (STs). Here we present the crystal structure of a mammalian ST, porcine ST3Gal-I, providing a structural basis for understanding the mechanism and specificity of these enzymes and for the design of selective inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Francesco V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Jamie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: Bojana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rakić
authors.forename: Sai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buddai
authors.forename: Marc F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Caryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bowe
authors.forename: Warren W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wakarchuk
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Defrees
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Withers
authors.forename: Natalie C J
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Strynadka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013552:Swine; D000094663:beta-Galactoside alpha-2,3-Sialyltransferase
chemical_list: D012799:Sialyltransferases; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D000094663:beta-Galactoside alpha-2,3-Sialyltransferase