-1,4-Galactosyltransferase ( -1,4-GalT) Gene KO Mice -1,4-Galactosyltransferase ( -1,4-GalT) (EC 2.4.1.38) is a glycosyltransferase that is required for the biosynthesis of the backbone structure from type 2 chain (Gal 4GlcNAc), which appears widely on N-glcans, O-glycans and glycolipids. The type 2 chain is particularly important in the synthesis of sialyl lewis x and SSEA-1, which play a role in the immune system and early embryogenesis, respectively. Although -1,4-GalT gene was believed to be a single gene in the past, novel -1,4-GalT genes were successively isolated in 1997-1998 to form the -1,4-GalT gene family consisting of seven genes. KO mice deficient in the -1,4-GalT activity and faint bands corresponding to the Gal 4GlcNAc structure detected in -1,4-GalT-I KO mice could be derived from other -1,4-GalT gene(s). -1,4-GalT-I KO mice were unexpectedly born normally, although an essential role of the Gal -1,4-GalT-I KO mice showed augmented proliferation and abnormal differentiation of intestinal and epidermal epithelial cells, suggesting the carbohydratechains synthesized by -1,4-GalT-I regulate proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells (1). | |
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