Sialyltransferase activity in FR3T3 cells transformed with ras oncogene: decreased CMP-Neu5Ac:Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase.

We have investigated the activity of CMP-Neu5Ac:Gal beta 1-3GalNAc alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase (EC 2.4.99.4) in FR3T3 cells transformed by the Ha-ras oncogene in which we have previously demonstrated the higher expression of the beta-galactosidase alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase (EC 2.4.99.1) [21]. We demonstrate that the presence of the activated ras gene decreases the activity of this specific alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase fourfold. According to the kinetic parameters and to mixing experiments, we can assume that this decreased enzymatic activity reflects a decrease in the number of active O-glycan alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase polypeptides in ras-transformed cells. However, no change in the binding of Peanut agglutinin was observed on the cell surface of ras-transformed FR3T3 suggesting that no change in the sialylation of O-glycan core 1 appeared in these cells, although the activity of the alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase was decreased.