ST6 beta-galactoside alpha-2,6- sialyltranferase 1 (ST6GAL1)

Abstract

ST6Gal I, β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase, is involved in the formation of NeuAcα2,6-Gal linkages in N-linked glycans. Currently, most glycosyltransferases have been identified by homology searches for known enzymes, but ST6Gal I is one of the few enzymes purified from liver tissues (Weinstein et al. 1982a) to homogeneity for identification of its cDNA (Weinstein et al. 1987). ST6Gal I shows a broad tissue distribution (Kitagawa and Paulson 1994), and its deficiency causes almost complete lack of α2,6-sialylation in N-linked glycans.