Cartoon of the role of B4GALNT3 enzyme for blocking glycan extension (IMAGE)

Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Tokai National Higher Education and Research System

Cartoon of the role of B4GALNT3 enzyme for blocking glycan extension

Caption

A type of glycan called “N-glycan” is usually extended by the actions of several enzymes (glycosyltransferases). The terminal sugar “sialic acid” increases protein stability in blood. Once B4GALNT3 adds a GalNAc sugar (yellow square) to N-glycan, the glycan extension is blocked. Loss of sialic acid decreases protein stability in blood.

Credit

Yasuhiko Kizuka, iGCORE

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