Molecular characterization of eukaryotic polysialyltransferase-1

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作者：

M Eckhardt，M Muhlenhoff，A Bethe，J Koopman，M Frosch，Gerardy Schahn R

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摘要：

POLYSIALIC acid (PSA) is a dynamically regulated product of post-translational modification of the neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM 1,2 . Presence of the large anionic carbohydrate modulates NCAM binding properties and, by increasing the intercellular space, influences interactions between other cell surface molecules 1–5 . PSA expression underlies cell type- and developmental-specific alterations 6 and correlates with stages of cellular motility 6–8 . In the adult, PSA becomes restricted to regions of permanent neural plasticity and regenerating neural and muscle tissues 6,9,10 . Recent data implicate its important function in spatial learning and memory 11,12 and in tumour biology 13–16 . Here we describe the molecular characterization of polysialyltransferase-1, the key enzyme of eukaryotic PSA synthesis. In reconstitution experiments, the newly cloned enzyme induces PSA synthesis in all NCAM-expressing cell lines. Our data therefore represent convincing evidence that the polycondensation of α–2,8–linked sialic acids in mammals is the result of a single enzymatic activity and provide a new basis for studying the functional role of PSA in neuro- and tumour biology.

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关键词：

Sialic Acids Sialyltransferases Cell Adhesion Molecules Neuronal DNA Complementary 唾液酸类唾液酰转移酶类