ENZYMES INVOLVED IN MAMMALIAN OLIGOSACCHARIDE BIOSYNTHESIS

Several new sialyltransferases, N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase and fucosyltransferase genes have been reported in this past year. These s equences have advanced our understanding of the structural, functional and evolutionary relationships amongst the glycosyltransferases, incl uding their roles in selectin ligand biosynthesis. Ablation of the mur ine N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase I gene through gene 'knock out' technology has yielded insight into the role of this gene in the devel oping mouse. Novel 'O-linked' protein glycosylation events described i n the past year have added to the substantial known diversity in the o ligosaccharide structure and glycosyltransferase repertoire of mammali an organisms.