Carbohydrate Sulfotransferase 6 (CHST6)

Hasegawa et al. (2000) determined N-acetylglucosamine-6-O-sulfotransferase (GlcNAc6ST) activity in normal corneas and corneas with keratoconus or macular corneal dystrophy by measuring the transfer of 35SO4 from (35S)3-prime phosphoadenosine 5-prime-phosphosulfate into the Gal residue of partially desulfated keratan sulfate and the nonreducing terminal GlcNAc residue of GlcNAc-beta-1/3Gal-beta-1/4GlcNAc (oligo A), respectively. GlcNAc6ST activity in the extracts from MCD-affected corneas, which was measured by using oligo A as an acceptor, was much lower than in those corneas with keratoconus and in normal control corneas. The authors concluded that the decrease in GlcNAc6ST activity in the cornea with MCD might result in the occurrence of low- or nonsulfated keratan sulfate and thereby cause corneal opacity.