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Merck

UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase: a regulator of cell surface sialylation.

Science (New York, N.Y.) (1999-05-21)
O T Keppler, S Hinderlich, J Langner, R Schwartz-Albiez, W Reutter, M Pawlita
PMID10334995
ABSTRACT

Modification of cell surface molecules with sialic acid is crucial for their function in many biological processes, including cell adhesion and signal transduction. Uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase (UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase) is an enzyme that catalyzes an early, rate-limiting step in the sialic acid biosynthetic pathway. UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase was found to be a major determinant of cell surface sialylation in human hematopoietic cell lines and a critical regulator of the function of specific cell surface adhesion molecules.