Biosynthesis of glycolipids: Incorporation of N‐acetyl galactosamine by a rat brain particulate preparation

Abstract
A mixture of UDP‐(N‐acetyl)glucosamine‐114C and UDP‐(N‐acetyl)galactosamine‐114C (7∶3) served as a substrate to demonstrate in young rat brain tissue the presence of enzymes which catalyzes the reactions: UDP‐glcNAc⇌UDP‐galNAc (E.C.5.1.3) and UDP‐galNAc+ gal‐glc‐cer→ galNAc‐gal‐glc‐cer+UDP. The glycolipid acceptor specificity was examined and preliminary kinetic data were obtained for the UDP‐(N‐acetyl)galactosamine: gal‐glc‐ceramide N‐acetyl galactosamine transferase. The products of the reaction were identified. The relationship of this reaction to ganglioside biosynthesis is discussed.

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