ENZYMES INVOLVED IN MAMMALIAN OLIGOSACCHARIDE BIOSYNTHESIS

Several new sialyltransferases, N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase and fucosyltransferase genes have been reported in this past year. These sequences have advanced our understanding of the structural, functional and evolutionary relationships amongst the glycosyltransferases, including their roles in selectin ligand biosynthesis. Ablation of the murine N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase I gene through gene 'knock out' technology has yielded insight into the role of this gene in the developing mouse. Novel 'O-linked' protein glycosylation events described in the past year have added to the substantial known diversity in the oligosaccharide structure and glycosyltransferase repertoire of mammalian organisms.