Loss of expression of N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase Va results in altered gene expression of glycosyltransferases and galectins

Abstract
We isolated mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) from N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase Va (GnT‐Va) knockout mice and studied the effects of loss of expression of GnT‐Va on asparagine‐linked glycans (N‐glycan) synthesis and the gene expression of groups of glycosyltransferases and galectins. Loss of GnT‐Va expression caused aberrant expression of several N‐glycan structures, including N‐linked β(1,6) branching, poly‐N‐lactosamine, bisecting N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and sialic acid. Using quantitative reverse transcriptase‐PCR (qRT‐PCR), altered gene expression of several groups of glycosyltransferases and galectins was observed in GnT‐Va null MEFs, supporting the observed changes in N‐glycan structures. These results suggest that genetic disruption of GnT‐Va ultimately resulted in altered MEFs gene expression and decreased tumor progression associated with loss of GnT‐Va observed may result in part from a combination of effects from these altered gene expressions.