Biosynthesis of blood group I and i antigens in rat tissues. Identification of a novel beta 1-6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase.

The beta-galactoside beta 1-6- and beta 1-3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases (beta 1-6GnT and beta 1-3GnT) that synthesize blood group I and i antigens were identified in rat tissues, using pyridylaminated lacto-N-neotetraose (Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-PA) as an acceptor. The products of the transferase reactions were separated on high performance liquid chromatography. The products of the transferase reactions were identified by 1H NMR as (formula; see text) and GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-PA. The product for beta 1-6GnT was also identified by methylation analysis. Kinetic experiments were carried out using rat serum for beta 1-3GnT and partially purified enzyme from rat intestine for beta 1-6GnT. beta 1-3GnT has a pH optimum of 7.5 and requires Mn2+ for optimal activity. beta 1-6GnT has a pH optimum of 7.0 and does not require Mn2+. Studies on the substrate specificity of each enzyme indicated that the preferred substrate for beta 1-3GnT had the general structure Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc-OR and, for beta 1-6GnT, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal-OR where R = sugar. This is the first demonstration that the beta 1-6GnT acts on an internal galactose of lacto-N-neotetraose and paragloboside, and the enzyme appears to be a novel enzyme in terms of substrate specificity.