What Is Sialyltransferase (ST)?

ST belongs to the Glycosyltransferase family. It is a typical type II transmembrane glycoprotein containing disulfide bonds, usually located in the endoplasmic reticulum and the inner Golgi apparatus. ST catalyzes the transfer of sialic acid to the ends of glycoproteins and glycolipids using cytidine 5'-monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac) as a donor substrate. It is an essential enzyme in the pathway to synthesize salivarylated oligosaccharides. Based on the homology of the salivary acid transferase protein sequences, all known salivary acid transferase enzymes are categorized into six glycosyltransferase families. To date, ST has been recognized in mammalian organs, bacteria, and viruses. They differ in their enzymatic activity, substrate of action, catalytic specificity, crystal structure, etc.

ST Engineering Service at CD BioGlyco

CD BioGlyco has developed a series of technologies for Gene Editing. We provide various services such as gene expression regulation, functional validation, mouse disease model construction, and phenotypic analysis.

• ST6GALNAC gene editing service
  ST6GALNAC belongs to the ST family. Abnormal expression of ST6GALNAC1 has been found in tumors such as ovarian cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, etc. We analyze the relationship between ST6GALNAC1 and cancer by constructing corresponding cell lines to develop new targets for cancer therapy.
• ST8SIA gene editing service
  ST8SIA catalyzes the attachment of sialic acid to the end of the sugar chain with α2,8 glycosidic bond. It is a key enzyme for the synthesis of polysialic acid and gangliosides. We regulate the expression of ST8SIA to affect the migration, adhesion, and invasion of short cancer cells.
• Microbial origin ST gene editing service
  ST of microbial origin has broad substrate specificity and is easily overexpressed in common prokaryotic expression systems. It is of great significance for the study of enzymatic properties and enrichment of salivary acid oligosaccharides. Upon request, we will genetically engineer strains with high production of ST for the development of novel salivary acid glycoside compounds.
  ST is generally found in low levels in living organisms. It is difficult to extract and prepare in large quantities. We introduce ST genes from other sources using appropriate vectors to achieve efficient expression in biological systems that are propagated in large quantities. By recombinantly expressing STs of mammalian origin, we will increase the variety of STs available for synthesis.

Fig.1 Types of ST gene editing. (CD BioGlyco)

Published Data

Paper Title: Sialylation shapes mucus architecture inhibiting bacterial invasion in the colon

Technology: CRISPR / Cas9 Technology, Gene Knockout

Journal: Mucosal Immunology

IF: 8

Published: 2023

Results: The function of St6 N-acetylgalactosaminide α-2,6-sialyltransferase 6 (St6galnac6) in intestinal mucin 2 (Muc2) synthesis was investigated. A St6galnac6-deficient (St6galnac6^-/-) mice model was constructed. The results showed reduced glycosylation of mucin O-glycans in St6galnac6^-/- mice. Under dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced conditions, St6galnac6^-/-mice showed more severe symptoms such as diarrhea and bleeding, as well as severe ulceration of the submucosa. St6galnac6^-/- mice were highly susceptible to intestinal inflammation.

Fig.2 Changes of St6galnac6^-/- mice after DSS administration. (Taniguchi, et al., 2023)

Applications

• Technologies for ST gene editing are used to study the development of cancer and help to provide excellent drug targets for targeted therapy.
• Technologies for ST gene editing are used to screen for high-yielding mutant strains and to increase the synthesis of their catalytic products.
• ST of microbial origin has wider substrate specificity. It is easily overexpressed in common prokaryotic expression systems, which is important for the study of enzymatic properties and enrichment of salivary acid oligosaccharides.

Advantages

• We have a strict quality control system and professional team management to ensure that the project is completed on time and efficiently.
• Our ssDNA synthesis has the advantages of low cytotoxicity, high editing efficiency, high editing correctness, and low off-target effect.
• Technologies for ST gene editing help to study the relationship between ST and drug resistance from the perspective of glycobiology, thus further providing new detection markers for drug resistance.

From in vivo to in vitro experiments, CD BioGlyco has rich experience in gene editing. We aim to provide clients with efficient gene editing and supporting experimental services. If you are in need, please feel free to contact us. We will give you regular feedback on the progress of your project and provide detailed experiment reports.

Reference:

1. Taniguchi, M.; et al. Sialylation shapes mucus architecture inhibiting bacterial invasion in the colon. Mucosal Immunology. 2023.