Abstract
In order to further understand the biological significances and regulatory mechanisms for expression of gangliosides, it is essential to isolate glycosyltransferase genes responsible for the synthesis of their carbohydrate structures. Expression cloning and analysis of the expression of β1, 4 N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase gene were reported. The cDNAs cloned by the eukaryotic cell expression system using CDM8 vector predicted the structure of type II transmembrane protein which is common among the glycosyltransferase genes reported so far. When appropriate cells were transfected with these cDNAs, they newly expressed GM2, or GM2 and GD2 suggesting that the cDNAs actually derived from GM2/GD2 synthase gene. The characteristic profile of the structure and function of this transferase gene was summarized, and the importance of isolation of another glycosyltransferase genes was emphasized.
