Complex formation of glycosyltransferases and their biological significance

Abstract

Recently, it has become clear that glycosyltransferases(GTs) form complexes in various manners. Some GTs can associate by themselves to form homodimers or homooligomers, while other GTs can associate with non-GT proteins to form hetero-oligomers. The biological significance of the complex formation is diverse; activation or stabilization of catalytic activities, alteration of substrate specificities, economical biosynthesis of glycans, localization and transport in the ER or the Golgi apparatus, modification of catalytic activities via certain effector proteins, and so on. Here, I will review a number of studies on GT complexes. ©2006 FCCA (Forum: Carbohydrates Coming of Age).