Beta-1,3-Galactosyltransferase 6 (b3GALT6)

beta3GalT6 showed a broad mRNA expression pattern by Northern blot analysis. Although a high degree of homology across several subdomains exists among other members of the beta3-galactosyltransferase family, recombinant enzyme did not utilize glucosamine- or galactosamine-containing acceptors. Instead, the enzyme transferred galactose from UDP-galactose to acceptors containing a terminal beta-linked galactose residue. This product, Galbeta1,3Galbeta is found in the linkage region of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, indicating that beta3GalT6 is the so-called galactosyltransferase II involved in glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. Its identity was confirmed in vivo by siRNA-mediated inhibition of glycosaminoglycan synthesis in HeLa S3 cells.