NEW POLYMERIC INHIBITOR OF GALACTOSYL TRANSFERASE

2',3'-Di-O-acetyluridine 5'-p-styrenesulfonate was synthesized by the reaction of 2',3'-di-O-acetyluridine with p-styrenesulfonyl chloride a nd polymerized. After removal of acetyl groups, the polymeric product was shown by NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography to be poly(uridine 5'-p-styrenesulfonate). This uridine-containing polymer w as tested against the galactosyl transferase that synthesizes lactose in the presence of alpha-lactalbumin. The polymeric compound did inhib it the enzyme with 75% inhibition requiring 120 mu M which is only one percent of the concentration of glycosyl donor substrate (UDP-galacto se, 12 mM).