Cloning and sequencing of a full-length cDNA of mouse N-acetylglucosamine (beta 1-4)galactosyltransferase.

A full-length cDNA clone for mouse N-acetylglucosamine (beta 1-4)galactosyltransferase (beta 1-4GT) [EC 2.4.1.90] and several clones diverged from the beta 1-4GT cDNA were isolated from a mouse F9 cDNA library and then sequenced. The beta 1-4GT cDNA has an open reading frame consisting of 399 amino acids. The homology at the amino acid level is 80 and 91% as to the partial sequences of bovine and human milk beta 1-4GT, respectively. The general enzyme structure of the beta 1-4GT seems to be similar to that of a rat beta-galactoside (alpha 2-6) sialyltransferase. Junctions of the common and divergent regions of cDNA have dinucleotides, AG, suggesting that the variety of cDNA clones is generated through alternative splicing.