Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.4.99.7 (sialyltransferase)
 1,534 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Molecular events that lead to the development of autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTNs) are somatic mutations of the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) in approximately 60% of the nodules and less frequently, somatic mutations in the Gsalpha protein. However, AFTNs without known mutations indicate that other causes remain to be identified. Moreover, the impact of constitutively activating TSHR mutations on the signal transduction network of the thyroid epithelial cell is unknown. We therefore investigated gene expression in 15 AFTNs and their surrounding tissue using Affymetrix GeneChips. Most prominently, data analysis revealed a changed pattern of gene expression in the TGF-beta signaling cascade and 25 differentially regulated genes in AFTNs, including thyroid peroxidase, type I iodothyronine deiodinase and sialyltransferase (SIAT) 1. Strikingly coexpression of SIAT 1 and TSHR in COS-7 cells increased TSH binding and cell surface expression of the TSHR. Moreover, differences in gene expression patterns for AFTNs with and without TSHR mutations indicate specific alterations of signal transduction in AFTNs without TSHR mutations. These results suggest that AFTNs with TSHR mutations harbor further mechanisms of forward stimulation. Furthermore, they give important leads to elucidate the molecular etiology of AFTNs without TSHR mutations.
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PMID:Gene expression analysis reveals evidence for inactivation of the TGF-beta signaling cascade in autonomously functioning thyroid nodules. 1473 14

Glycosylation of the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) has been shown to be essential for correct protein folding and for cell-surface targeting. In a recent study, we detected increased expression of beta-galactoside alpha(2,6)-sialyltransferase (SIAT1) in toxic thyroid adenomas where gain-of-function mutations of the TSHR have been invoked as one of the major causes. To investigate the physiological meaning of these findings, we designed experiments to evaluate the consequences of sialylation for the expression of the TSHR. Hence, we investigated the effect of coexpressing the TSHR and different sialyltransferases (SIAT1, SIAT4a, and SIAT8a) for cell-surface expression of the receptor. Coexpression of each of the three SIAT isoforms and the TSHR in COS-7 cells increased TSHR expression on the cell surface in the range of 50 to 100%. Moreover, Western blot analysis with lectins specific for alpha(2,3) and alpha(2,6)-linked sialic acids and lectin-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay support a direct effect on TSHR cell-surface expression mediated by sialic acid transfer to the TSHR. Finally, we treated living COS-7 cells after cotransfection of TSHR and SIAT8a with neuraminidase for 30 min to remove covalently linked sialic acid. Subsequent loss of TSHR cell-surface expression suggests that sialylation prolongs the resting time of the TSHR on the cell surface. Our data demonstrate for the first time that the transfer of sialic acid can improve and prolong cell-surface expression of a transmembrane receptor.
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PMID:Sialylation of human thyrotropin receptor improves and prolongs its cell-surface expression. 1601 6