Correlated gene expression between beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase V and N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V in human cancer cell lines

Since our previous study showed that the gene expression level of beta-1,4- galactosyltransferase (beta-1,4-GalT) V is only increased in mouse NIH3T3 t ransformant and that beta-1,4-GalT V preferentially galactosylates the GlcN Ac beta 1 --> 6Man branch of oligosaccharides [Shirane ef al. (1999) Bioche m. Biophys. Res. Commun. 265, 434-438], whether its gene expression is corr elated with malignant transformation was investigated. Northern blot analys is of beta-1,4-GalTs I, II, III, TV, V, and VI and N-acetylglucosaminyltran sferase (GlcNAcT)V in human cancer cell lines showed that the gene expressi on levels of beta-1,4-GaIT V but not other beta-1,4-GalTs are strongly corr elated with those of GlcNAcT V whose activity was shown to increase by mali gnant transformation, These results indicate that beta-1,4-GalT V is involv ed in the galactosylation of highly branched oligosaccharides characteristi c of malignantly transformed cells, (C) 2000 Academic Press.