UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase: a regulator of cell surface sialylation

Science. 1999 May 21;284(5418):1372-6. doi: 10.1126/science.284.5418.1372.

Abstract

Modification of cell surface molecules with sialic acid is crucial for their function in many biological processes, including cell adhesion and signal transduction. Uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase (UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase) is an enzyme that catalyzes an early, rate-limiting step in the sialic acid biosynthetic pathway. UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase was found to be a major determinant of cell surface sialylation in human hematopoietic cell lines and a critical regulator of the function of specific cell surface adhesion molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • Carbohydrate Epimerases / genetics
  • Carbohydrate Epimerases / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Culture Media
  • Escherichia coli Proteins*
  • Glycoconjugates / metabolism*
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / biosynthesis
  • Humans
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Lewis X Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / biosynthesis
  • Oligosaccharides / biosynthesis
  • Rats
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2
  • Sialic Acids / biosynthesis*
  • Sialyl Lewis X Antigen
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte
  • CD22 protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Culture Media
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Glycoconjugates
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Lectins
  • Lewis X Antigen
  • Lipopolysaccharide Receptors
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2
  • Sialic Acids
  • Sialyl Lewis X Antigen
  • Carbohydrate Epimerases
  • UDP acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase
  • wecB protein, E coli

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AJ238764