Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.4.99.6 (sialyltransferase)
 1,546 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Human melanoma cells express high levels of GM3 and GD3 gangliosides whereas normal melanocytes have only low levels of GD3 but maintain their expression of GM3. In order to understand the basis for this difference, the levels of the sialyltransferase that converts GM3 to GD3 (CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid:GM3 sialyltransferase or GD3 synthase, EC 2.4.99.8) were analyzed in melanoma and other cell lines. Enzyme levels were determined in vitro using membrane preparations and measuring the addition of [14C]-N-acetylneuraminic acid from CMP-[14C]-N-acetylneuraminic acid to GM3 in the presence of Triton CF-54. Sialyltransferase levels in 44 human cancer cell lines (including melanoma, neuroblastoma, astrocytoma, various carcinomas, and leukemias) and cultures of normal melanocytes and kidney epithelial cells were compared, and the products were identified by thin layer chromatography and fluorography. Melanoma cell lines exhibited the highest levels of incorporation and GD3 was found to be the major product. GM3 was also formed, apparently from endogenous lactosylceramide. Very low levels of GD3 synthase were found in normal melanocytes. Neuroblastoma and some astrocytoma cell lines also had significant levels of GD3 synthase. Some other cell lines incorporated high levels of radioactivity but the products did not correspond to GD3 and the major product was usually GM3. In general the levels of GD3 synthase correlated with the expression of GD3 in the various cell types. These results point to higher levels of GD3 synthase being directly responsible for the enhanced expression of GD3 in melanoma.
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PMID:Sialyltransferase levels and ganglioside expression in melanoma and other cultured human cancer cells. 280 71

Neuroblastoma (NB), accounting for 10% of childhood cancers, exhibits aberrant cell-surface glycosylation patterns. There is evidence that changes in glycolipids and protein glycosylation pathways are associated to NB biological behavior. Polysialic acid (PSA) interferes with cellular adhesion, and correlates with NB progression and poor prognosis, as well as the expression of sialyltransferase STX, the key enzyme responsible for PSA synthesis. Galectin-1 and gangliosides, overexpressed and actively shedded by tumor cells, can modulate normal cells present in the tumor microenvironment, favoring angiogenesis and immunological escape. Different glycosyltransferases are emerging as tumor markers and potential molecular targets. Immunotherapy targeting disialoganglioside GD2 rises as an important treatment option. One anti-GD2 antibody (ch14.18), combined with IL-2 and GM-CSF, significantly improves survival for high-risk NB patients. This review summarizes our current knowledge on NB glycobiology, highlighting the molecular basis by which carbohydrates and protein-carbohydrate interactions impact on biological behavior and patient clinical outcome.
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PMID:Glycobiology of neuroblastoma: impact on tumor behavior, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies. 2490 28