Ganglioside galactosyltransferase

In enzymology, a ganglioside galactosyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * UDP-galactose + N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl-(N-acetylneuraminyl)-D-galactosyl-1,4- beta-D-glucosyl-N-acylsphingosine $$\rightleftharpoons$$ UDP + D-galactosyl-1,3-beta-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl-(N- acetylneuraminyl)-D-galactosyl-D-glucosyl-N-acylsphingosine

The 3 substrates of this enzyme are UDP-galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl-(N-acetylneuraminyl)-D-galactosyl-1,4-, and beta-D-glucosyl-N-acylsphingosine, whereas its 3 products are UDP, D-galactosyl-1,3-beta-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl-(N-, and acetylneuraminyl)-D-galactosyl-D-glucosyl-N-acylsphingosine.

This enzyme belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, specifically the hexosyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is UDP-galactose:N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl-(N-acetylneuraminyl)-D-galac tosyl-D-glucosyl-N-acylsphingosine beta-1,3-D-galactosyltransferase. Other names in common use include UDP-galactose-ceramide galactosyltransferase, uridine diphosphogalactose-ceramide galactosyltransferase, UDP galactose-LAC Tet-ceramide alpha-galactosyltransferase, UDP-galactose-GM2 galactosyltransferase, uridine diphosphogalactose-GM2 galactosyltransferase, uridine diphosphate D-galactose:glycolipid galactosyltransferase, UDP-galactose:N-acetylgalactosaminyl-(N-acetylneuraminyl), galactosyl-glucosyl-ceramide galactosyltransferase, UDP-galactose-GM2 ganglioside galactosyltransferase, and GM1-synthase. This enzyme participates in glycosphingolipid biosynthesis - ganglioseries and glycan structures - biosynthesis 2.